ESA’s Astronaut Reserve Training is a cornerstone of Europe’s growing role in human spaceflight. It reflects ESA’s commitment to preparing a new generation of explorers who can contribute to scientific research, technological advancement, and international cooperation in low Earth orbit and beyond. 

The patch created for the Astronaut Reserve Training is a visual representation of ESA’s values and ambitions.  

At the centre of the patch is a depiction of Europe on a curved planet Earth. A compass star highlights ESA’s European Astronaut Centre (EAC), close to Cologne, Germany. This map symbol marks the geographical heart of European astronaut training and evokes a sense of direction, readiness and exploration — qualities essential for navigating the vastness of space. 

Radiating from the compass star are five streams of light, representing the flow of knowledge, collaboration, innovation, determination and vision that leads Europe from Earth to space. The paths stream upwards to the International Space Station in the centre and other future space stations surrounding it. Together, they reflect ESA’s commitment to operations in low Earth orbit, using the long heritage of the International Space Station as a guide to continue science beyond its lifetime. 

Scattered across a purple graded horizon are twelve stars, representing the twelve members of ESA’s first group of Astronaut Reserves—trailblazers, who, through their training at EAC, stand ready to take on the challenges of future missions.  

Though originally designed to mark the beginning of ESA’s Astronaut Reserve training and its first cohort, the patch now serves as a lasting emblem, symbolising the spirit, purpose and continuity of astronaut preparation in Europe. It also reflects ESA’s ability to evolve and support its Member States’ ambitions, including through new commercial opportunities in human spaceflight. 

ESA’s Astronaut Reserve Training covers several modules of the one-year basic training programme typically completed by ESA career astronauts. The training equips the members of the Astronaut Reserve with the skills needed to support Europe’s future space exploration and scientific research. 

The training includes basic technical and operational skills, spacecraft systems, as well as survival exercises in water and winter conditions for potential emergencies. It also includes spacewalk training familiarisation, such as scuba diving in ESA's Neutral Buoyancy Facility. 

By equipping these individuals with the skills they need, ESA is preparing for the challenges and opportunities of future missions in Earth orbit and beyond.