What does it take to join the European Space Agency's elite astronaut reserve?
Meet Arnaud Prost, an aerospace engineer and professional diver selected for the ESA Astronaut Reserve. This video explores the rigorous training preparing Europe's next generation of explorers for future missions in Earth orbit and beyond.
The Astronaut Reserve Training (ART) programme, based at the European Astronaut Centre near Cologne, Germany, provides a comprehensive foundation for future spaceflight. Participants engage in a multidisciplinary curriculum that spans the intricacies of the International Space Station, the European space industry, and complex technical domains like robotics and spacecraft systems.
Beyond technical proficiency, the training emphasizes human behavior, scientific study, and physical readiness through survival and scuba diving exercises. Recorded in November 2024, this look into the programme highlights how the ESA is cultivating a versatile cohort capable of tackling the challenges of space exploration.
