The European Space Agency says it was "blown away" by the record number of applicants — over 22,000 — hoping to become the continent's next generation of space travellers, which included more women than ever before and 200 people with disabilities.
The agency acknowledged that it still has work to do on gender balance as it released the results of a new recruitment drive aimed at increasing astronaut diversity. Women made up only 24 percent of the applicants, up from 15 percent in the previous hiring drive in 2008.
Although the hiring campaign did not specifically address ethnic diversity, it did emphasise the importance of "representing all parts of our society." The agency received applications from all 25 member and associate members, with the majority coming from traditional heavyweights France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Italy.
For the first time, the ESA specifically sought out people with physical disabilities to participate in a first-of-its-kind effort to determine what modifications to space stations would be required to accommodate them.
The rivalry is fierce. Only four to six people will be chosen as Europe's next astronauts, with a reserve team of approximately 20 people. Over the next year, the candidates will be subjected to extensive screening, with a final decision expected in late 2022.
“We’ve all been astonished” at the number of applicants, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher told a news conference. “It’s a very strong expression of interest and enthusiasm that people have across Europe for space.”
The European Space Agency has only sent two women into space so far — Claudie Haigneré and Samantha Cristoforetti — but hopes to increase that number.
The European Space Agency is a 22-member intergovernmental organisation dedicated to space exploration.
Despite the fact that 5,419 women applied for the new ESA programme,“the numbers also show there is more to be done to achieve gender balance in the space sector,” said David Parker, its director of human and robotic exploration.
Globally, 65 of the more than 560 people who have explored space have been women, with the majority of them being Americans.
