ESA Explores

Sophie Adenot is one of ESA's five astronaut candidates currently undergoing basic astronaut training at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany. Tune in as she shares her experiences in astronaut training, her favourite lessons, as well as tips on maintaining the balance and achieving your dreams.

This is Episode 6 of our ESA Explores podcast series introducing the ESA astronaut class of 2022, recorded in November 2023.

Find out more about Sophie: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Astronauts/Sophie_Adenot

And about ESA’s astronaut class of 2022: https://blogs.esa.int/exploration/category/astronauts2022/esa-astronaut-candidates/

Glossary: AsCan - Astronaut Candidate, EAC - European Astronaut Centre, ESTEC - ESA's European Space Research and Technology Centre, EVA - Extravehicular Activity, NBF - Neutral Buoyancy Facility

Music and audio editing by Denzel Lorge. Cover art by Gaël Nadaud.

Pablo Álvarez Fernández, one of ESA's five astronaut candidates currently undergoing basic astronaut training at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, shares his experiences in astronaut training, his favourite lessons, and his view on the future of space exploration. Also, stay tuned to hear his favourite space-related quote and movie!

This is Episode 5 of our ESA Explores podcast series introducing the ESA astronaut class of 2022, recorded in November 2023.

Find out more about Pablo: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Astronauts/Pablo_Alvarez_Fernandez

And about ESA’s astronaut class of 2022: https://blogs.esa.int/exploration/category/astronauts2022/esa-astronaut-candidates/

Glossary: AsCan - Astronaut Candidate, EAC - European Astronaut Centre, EVA - Extravehicular Activity

Music and audio editing by Denzel Lorge. Cover art by Gaël Nadaud.

Rosemary Coogan, one of ESA’s five astronaut candidates currently undergoing basic astronaut training at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, shares her journey from studying the stars as an astronomer to training for space travel. Join us as we talk about her experiences in astronaut training, her favourite lessons, and her excitement for the future of space exploration.

This is Episode 4 of our ESA Explores podcast series introducing the ESA astronaut class of 2022, recorded in November 2023.

Find out more about Rosemary: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Astronauts/Rosemary_Coogan

And about ESA’s astronaut class of 2022: https://blogs.esa.int/exploration/category/astronauts2022/esa-astronaut-candidates/

Learn more about ESA’s Euclid mission here: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Euclid

Glossary: AsCan - Astronaut Candidate, EAC - European Astronaut Centre, EVA - Extravehicular Activity

Music and audio editing by Denzel Lorge. Cover art by Gaël Nadaud.

Marco Sieber is one of ESA’s five astronaut candidates currently undergoing basic astronaut training at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne. Join us as we speak to Marco about his first months of training and living in Germany, his background as a medical doctor, his favourite training lessons, and what he is excited about for the future of space exploration.

This is the third episode of our ESA Explores podcast series introducing the ESA astronaut class of 2022. It was recorded in November 2023.

Find out more about Marco: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Astronauts/Marco_Alain_Sieber

And about ESA’s astronaut class of 2022: https://blogs.esa.int/exploration/category/astronauts2022/esa-astronaut-candidates/

Music and audio editing by Denzel Lorge. Cover art by Gaël Nadaud.

Raphaël Liégeois is one of ESA’s five astronaut candidates currently undergoing basic astronaut training at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne. Join us as we speak to Raphaël about his first months of training and living in Germany, the philosophy of neuroscience, piloting hot air balloons, his favourite training lesson so far, and what he is excited about for the future of space exploration.

This is the second episode of our ESA Explores podcast series introducing the ESA astronaut class of 2022. It was recorded in November 2023.

Find out more about Raphaël: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Astronauts/Raphael_Liegeois

And about ESA’s astronaut class of 2022: https://blogs.esa.int/exploration/category/astronauts2022/esa-astronaut-candidates/

Here’s the answer to one of our most FAQ ;) https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2023/11/How_to_go_to_the_toilet_in_space_-_English

Music and audio editing by Denzel Lorge. Cover art by Gaël Nadaud.

ESA project astronaut Marcus Wandt will soon be launched to the International Space Station for his first spaceflight mission. Marcus is the first member of ESA’s astronaut class of 2022 to fly into space, as the opportunity came to fly on a commercial human spaceflight mission with Axiom Space. Hear from Marcus as he tells us all about his fast-track mission training in Europe and around the world, from intercultural teamwork to space science, and what he’s most looking forward to during his Muninn mission.

This is the first episode of our new ESA Explores podcast series introducing the ESA astronaut class of 2022. It was recorded in November 2023.

Find out more about Marcus on our ESA Exploration blog: https://blogs.esa.int/exploration/category/astronauts/marcus-wandt/

Music and audio editing by Denzel Lorge. Cover art by Gaël Nadaud.

Welcome to a special bonus episode of our Time and Space series on the ESA Explores podcast! Join us in commemorating the 40th anniversary of Spacelab's maiden flight, a pivotal moment in European space history. We're thrilled to chat with Ulf Merbold, ESA's first astronaut in space, as we reflect on 40 years of space exploration. Explore his remarkable journey—from pioneering missions to his vision for the future of space exploration.

Audio editing by Denzel Lorge.

Additional content:

Find out more about Ulf here or listen to our episode: Time and space: ESA’s first astronaut | ESA Explores (podbean.com).

Read more about the 40-year anniversary of Spacelab-1 and discover Spacelab-1’s enduring legacy and its impact on future space exploration here: ESA – Spacelab to Gateway: 40 years of modules for people in space.

ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer will soon be launched to the International Space Station for a six-month stay in orbit. In this podcast, he talks about his training, the differences he's found between the Russian and American spacesuits, the role of the new European Robotic Arm (ERA), whether he's packed, science and what he's most looking forward to during his Cosmic Kiss mission.

Note: this episode was recorded just prior to the launch of Russia's new MLM module, which travelled to the Station on 21 July with ERA attached to its back. Matthias is scheduled to launch as a member of Crew-3 in a SpaceX Crew Dragon no earlier than 31 October 2021. 

ESA astronaut André Kuipers first encountered the European Robotic Arm (ERA) on paper, when it was intended for a proposed spaceplane called Hermes. Many iterations later, this European-built robot will soon be launched to the International Space Station – its new home in orbit. In this episode André shares how he trained with ERA underwater in Moscow, Russia and talks us through its features from an astronaut's perspective.

The European Robotic Arm (ERA) is set for launch to the International Space Station in July 2021, where it will provide access to the exterior of the Russian segment and support future space walks. Ahead of its launch, we caught up with ESA ERA project manager Philippe Schoonejans. Philippe shares more about this dexterous 11 m long robot, what it enables, and its journey from Europe to space in a tale of international partnership and perseverance. 

This episode is the first in a series covering the European Robotic Arm. Stay tuned for an astronaut's perspective in our next episode with ESA astronaut André Kuipers. 

For more on ESA's human and robotic exploration activities follow us on Twitter @esaspaceflight or visit blogs.esa.int/exploration