Agency
03/11/2025
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Members of the European Space Agency’s astronaut reserve, including the UK’s Meganne Christian and John McFall, have completed an intensive eight-week programme designed to hone some of the essential skills required for human spaceflight.
Held at ESA’s European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Germany from early September to late October this year, the course represented the second phase of Astronaut Reserve Training (ART). It built on the first phase of ART, which took place in two separate groups at the end of 2024 and early 2025.
ESA Astronaut Reserve Training in the Neutral Buoyancy Facility
During the second training block, the members of the astronaut reserve got to grips with the fundamentals of spaceflight and practiced operational tasks that must be carried out on the International Space Station. They went on to complete sea survival training, firefighting exercises, and scuba diving skills tests designed to simulate emergency scenarios and microgravity conditions.
The group also studied the effect of spaceflight on the human body, received media and public engagement training, learnt about the laws that will govern future space exploration efforts – and participated in a ceremony to unveil the official European Astronaut Reserve Training patch.
Turning up the heat in ESA’s Astronaut Reserve Training
Meganne Christian said, “I really enjoyed returning to EAC for this second block of training, which allowed me to deepen my understanding across a broad range of topics and strengthen relationships with the skilled and passionate team there. It was fascinating to learn more about how we work in space: everything from the physics and engineering involved to the laws and regulations that govern it. I also loved learning new practical skills like photography and basic medical tasks. Facing these challenges with my classmates was hugely rewarding.”
John McFall said, “It was great to have the Astronaut Reserve members together at the European Astronaut Centre. Spending time as a team and sharing the patch ceremony made this period feel special. It was a meaningful way to celebrate the group and the journey we’re all part of.”
Matthew Cook, Head of Space Exploration at the UK Space Agency, said, “It’s fantastic to see Meganne and John reach this important milestone in their astronaut reserve training with the European Space Agency. As they develop the skills needed for future missions, they’re not only advancing their own capabilities but also inspiring people from all backgrounds and circumstances to pursue careers in the UK’s thriving space sector, showing that opportunities in space are open to everyone.”
You can read the full story about the second training phase of ESA’s Astronaut Reserve on the Human and Robotic Exploration pages of esa.int.
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