Technology
In a bid to recruit more female and disabled astronauts, the European Space Agency
In 11 years, the European Space Agency is holding its first recruitment drive and is underlining its desire to achieve greater diversity.
This year, NASA's European equivalent is seeking to recruit more women astronauts, as well as individuals with disabilities who have always dreamed of entering space.
We are looking towards the Moon ... and Mars. We need very excellent astronauts for the future, said ESA Director General Jan Worner. To go farther than we ever have before, we need to look wider than we ever have before.
Only 65 of the more than 560 individuals who ever went into space were women. 51 of those sixty-five women were American.
Only two women have been sent into space by the ESA, Claudie Haigneré & Samantha Cristoforetti, and are now attempting to correct the imbalance.
As part of an initiative called the Parastronaut Feasibility Project, the European Agency says the' time has come' to put disabled people into space. It's the first time a space agency has opened the application process to people with disabilities anywhere, according to ESA.
David Parker, the Human & Robotic Exploration Director of the agency, said that representing all parts of our society is a concern that we take very seriously. ESA diversity should address not only the origin, age, background or gender of our astronauts, but also physical disabilities, perhaps.
The ESA has worked with the International Paralympic Committee to classify the various types and degrees or impairments and to draw up a list of eligible impairments.
"Red" impairment means that, unfortunately, the type or level of disability is not compatible with the tasks performed by astronauts. "Yellow" means that some modifications, modifications or innovations may be compatible with them, while "green" indicates that they are compatible with the tasks.
The approach was welcomed by British astronaut Tim Peake, saying it will hopefully change the landscape so that people from diverse backgrounds will see that actually there is an opportunity here to become part of Europe’s new space pioneers
The application process will take some 18 months, agency officials say, before a handful of successful astronauts are chosen.
Applicants with a Master's degree or higher and at least three years of experience in natural sciences, medicine, engineering, mathematics and computer science are sought by the ESA.
They will be subjected to a series of psychological tests, practical and psychometric tests, medical selection and two interview rounds. In October 2022, the appointments are to be announced.
