Astronaut definitions

The European Astronaut Corps consists of ESA astronauts who can be assigned by ESA to spaceflight missions. The home base of the European Astronaut Corps is the European Astronaut Centre (EAC).

“ESA astronauts” are active ESA staff having successfully completed Basic Astronaut training recognised by ESA or who have participated in a mission to space.

Active ESA staff committed to Basic Astronaut Training according to requirements set and recognised by the head of EAC Department is considered as Astronaut Candidate.

Members of the Astronaut Reserve are individuals selected by ESA as potential future astronaut candidates during an astronaut recruitment or selection. They are qualified to start basic training if ESA requires additional astronauts, in case extra space flight opportunities are provided by the ESA Member States.

A European Astronaut is a European citizen who has successfully completed Basic Astronaut training recognised by ESA or who has participated in a mission to space.

Project Astronauts are hired as ESA staff on a fixed-term contract and have posts that are linked to a specific flight or project. These assignments can include missions of opportunity where ESA or its Member States want to send a European to space. The length of a Project Astronauts' contract is directly connected to the duration of their mission.