All three of UK's new astronauts have South East connection

Three new astronauts have been chosen to represent the UK Space Agency, and all of them have a connection to the South East.

After a record UK Space Agency investment in the European Space Agency (ESA), the UK has a new career astronaut, a parastronaut and reserve astronaut.

Rosemary Coogan, who graduated from the University of Sussex with a doctorate in astronomy, has been selected to be the UK’s third astronaut ever by the ESA, following in the footsteps of Tim Peake and Helen Sharman.

She will be joined in the ESA astronaut corps by four other new career astronauts from ESA member states.

Joining her is former Paralympian John McFall, who was born in Frimley, Surrey. John becomes the first ever astronaut from the UK to have a physical disability.

The call for astronauts with physical disabilities was a world first, open to those with a lower limb deficiency or who are considered to be of short stature and met other recruitment criteria. The ESA intends to adapt space hardware to make it possible for them to serve on a space mission as crew members.

Finally, Meganne Christian, who was born in Pembury in Kent, will become a member of the ESA Astronaut Reserve, having completed the astronaut selection process.

The three are part of the first cohort of astronauts to be unveiled by the ESA since 2009. More than 22,500 people applied for the roles, with 2,000 of those coming from the UK. 257 people applied to the call for astronauts with a physical disability.

The new astronauts were revealed following the cessation of the ESA Council of Ministers meeting in Paris, where the UK Space Agency committed £1.84 billion of funding to new missions and programmes.

Science and Space Minister George Freeman said: “Tim Peake’s Principia mission showed us all how space has the power to inspire millions across the country, showcasing the UK’s role as a space science superpower.

“Today’s announcement of the next set of UK ESA astronauts is a sign of international respect for both UK space scientists and the UK’s commitment to space for all.

“Just as sport is the ultimate test ground of human endeavour on land, space represents the ultimate testbed for science and technology.

“Just as London 2012 Paralympic Games changed the global profile of Paralympics, so space is the ultimate environment to show our commitment to the values of shared endeavour for the good of humanity and the planet.

“I congratulate Rosemary, John and Meganne on their remarkable achievement and look forward to them inspiring a new generation.”

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Experiments carried out aboard the ISS helps to develop new materials and medical treatments, along with developing understanding of fundamental scientific processes. In theory the work they do will one day help to send humans further into space, including that mainstay of science fiction, Mars.

Astronauts also take part in research as human test subjects, studying the effects of space on the body to help researchers understand ageing processes that affect us all on Earth.

The successful candidates have all undergone a process of screening, psychological, practical, and psychometric testing, medical selections and interview selections.

Rosemary Coogan and the rest of the new career astronauts will report to the ESA’s European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, with basic training activities beginning in 2023.

The recruits will be put through an intensive, year-and-a-half training session which will cover the physics of spaceflight, new languages, survival training and the all-important how to fly a spacecraft. The mission specific training following this, once they are assigned to a mission, can take up to a further two years.

Meanwhile, John McFall will play a crucial role in a feasibility study to find out what alterations need to be made, for example in the spacecraft or on board the ISS, to fly safely.

This is also the first time ESA has established an astronaut reserve, which is composed of the candidates who were successful throughout the entire selection process and were not recruited.

They will receive a consultancy contract from ESA while remaining with their current employers

Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said: “This is a momentous day for the UK Space Agency, our space sector and the country as a whole.

“Through our investment in the European Space Agency, the UK is playing a leading role in space exploration and collaborating with international partners to use the unique vantage point of space to benefit life on Earth.

“Space has an incredible power to inspire and I am sure Rosemary, John and Meganne will become heroes for many young people and inspire them to shoot for the stars. It’s also important to remember that, behind every astronaut, there is a dedicated team of people, including in the UK, working behind the scenes to achieve the incredible.”

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Featured image: Rosemary Coogan, John McFall and Meganne Christian. Credit: gov.uk