European Space Agency eyeing diversity in astronaut recruitment drive

The European Space Agency (ESA) is focusing on diversity as it seeks to recruit new astronauts for the first time in over a decade.

ESA Director General Jan Worner said during a news conference on Tuesday that it is particularly encouraging women and people with physical disabilities to apply.

“We would like, at this time in the new search in 2021-2022 selection process, we would really particularly encourage women to apply because it’s very interesting, and supportive if we have mixed teams with different backgrounds and different genders,” Worner said.

ESA has only sent two women to space, according to the Associated Press.

ESA is also announcing the “Parastronaut Project,” which is a feasibility project aimed at allowing people with physical disabilities to work and live in space. According to a media kit, the project would allow be open to those with a lower limb deficiency, a pronounced leg length difference or a short stature less than 130 cm. 

The project will be the first time the agency has sent astronauts with physical disabilities to space.

ESA will receive applications between March 31 and May 28, 2021, and plans to make final appointments and announcements by October 2022, according to the media kit.

David Parker, ESA’s Director of Human and Robotic Exploration, said the agency is looking for looking to hire between four and six “career astronauts,” or permanent astronauts, as well as  up to 20 “reserve astronauts” who would be on standby for specific missions.