ESA announces six new astronauts

[Mark de Vries]

The European Space Agency has just announced the selection of six new astronauts to complement the eight already in active service. Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain mentiioned that they're all young enough to have a good chance of going to the moon, but they'll almost definitely fly missions on the ISS or future spacecraft, starting in 2013.

They are:
- Samantha Cristoforetti, an Italian Air Force pilot.
- Alexander Gerst, a German geophysicist and vulcanologist.
- Andreas Mogensen, a Danish aerospace engineer
- Luca Parmitano, another Italian Air Force pilot, working as a test pilot.
- Timothy Peake, a British helicopter test pilot. Britain does not participate in ESA's manned space program, but Peake was selected simply because he was good.
- Thomas Pesquet, a french engineer and civilian pilot.

ESA now has fourteen active astronauts!

 

[oponda2009]

The new recruits will join the European Astronaut Corps and start their training to prepare for future missions to the International Space Station, and beyond.
The new astronauts and their nationality are Samantha Cristoforetti, Italian; Alexander Gerst, German; Andreas Mogensen, Danish; Luca Parmitano, Italian; Timothy Peake, British; and Thomas Pesquet, French.