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For centuries, people dreamed about leaving Earth and travelling to other worlds. Then, in 1957, the Soviet Union made the first small step into space by launching a small satellite, called Sputnik. The Space Age had begun.

Early space activities were dominated by the United States and the Soviet Union. However, as time went by, Europe and Japan also learned how to build their own satellites and rockets. Today, countries such as China, India, South Korea, Israel and Brazil are developing their own space industries.

During the last 60 years, unmanned probes have been sent towards all of the planets in the Solar System, as well as many satellites, asteroids and comets. Spacecraft have soft-landed on half a dozen worlds, while rovers have driven over the surfaces of the Moon and Mars. The Sun has also been explored in great detail by a fleet of spacecraft.

Many space observatories, such as the Hubble Space Telescope, have been launched to look at the distant Universe. They have sent back some amazing pictures taken in visible light. But they can also observe stars and galaxies at wavelengths that are invisible to human eyes – radio, infrared, ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays. The flood of discoveries has changed the way we look at the Universe.

More than 500 people have also flown in space since Yuri Gagarin paved the way in 1961. 20 people have travelled to the Moon and 12 of them have walked on the Moon. Space stations have been built, and astronauts have learned to live and work in space for many months, or even years.

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If a space mission is to be a success, astronauts (and mission teams on the ground) have to know about how spacecrafts work, handle experiments on the International Space Station, learn about space systems, and special skills like robotic operations, and prepare for spacewalks. To practice this, astronauts in Europe mostly train at ESA’s European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany.

As of the April 2024 graduation, there are 11 active astronauts from ESA, coming from eight Member States! On top of this, 12 members of the European astronaut reserve were selected, including the first person with a physical disability to join ESA's astronaut reserve—John McFall. With John’s selection, ESA has launched the Feasibility Study phase of "Fly!", an initiative aimed at making space missions accessible for all. For the first time, ESA is exploring the possibility of an astronaut with a physical disability embarking on a long-duration mission to the International Space Station.

Led by former ESA astronaut Frank de Winne, the EAC team is made up of ESA astronauts, astronaut training instructors, space medicine experts, crew operations specialists, European communicators, young interns, and researchers. Together, they prepare European and international astronauts for many different types of missions.

EAC has around 200 people working together on this mission. It’s located on the campus of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), where they work closely with scientists from DLR’s Institute of Aerospace Medicine, envihab. This medical research facility studies how space affects humans and how to stay healthy in space. Right next to EAC is LUNA, a special place where astronauts can train for the Moon, with its own lunar surface and technology test centre.

The teams and facilities at EAC support not only ESA’s astronauts but also international space teams. Astronauts from different space agencies come to train at EAC, just like they do on the Space Station. EAC trains around 30 astronauts each year from around the world.

One way in which this is done is by practicing what they would do in the Earth’s orbit (in-orbit activities) in a huge water tank that has a copy of the European Columbus science lab. Spacesuited astronauts can use the tank to practice spacewalks as the water pushes up on them (from a force called buoyancy) which balances gravity pulling them down. This means the water makes them feel almost weightless, just like they would be in space. This helps them prepare for spacewalks and other activities they’ll do in orbit!

Andreas Mogensen during EVA training underwater with a copy of the European Columbus science lab

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EAC has a full-size model of the Columbus science lab, as well as simulators and other hands-on equipment. This allows astronauts from countries such as the USA, Russia and Japan to learn about the European parts of the International Space Station and how to command the European research lab on the Space Station. There’s also a state-of-the-art fitness room, classrooms, and computer-based training systems managed by expert staff at EAC.

Modern technology also helps astronauts to practice by using a virtual reality (VR) system. Wearing a special headset, they can move around or through the Space Station as if they were really there.

EAC also provides medical support to the astronauts and their families in preparation for, during and after their space missions. Dozens of space missions involving astronauts from ESA and its Member States have been helped by EAC since it was created in 1990.

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The International Space Station (ISS) is the biggest object ever flown in space and can often be seen from Earth! It travels around the Earth at an average speed of 28 800 km/h, completing 16 orbits per day, as it flies on average 400 kilometres above us. 15 countries, including the USA, Russia, Japan, Canada and many ESA member states worked together to build the Station Since it was first built in 1998, more than 250 people from over 20 different countries have visited the ISS.

The largest part of the ISS is a long, central beam called the truss that has 8 huge solar array wings (each with two solar panels) attached. The modules where the astronauts live and work are attached to the centre of the truss. Europe’s biggest ISS project is the Columbus science laboratory, where astronauts can carry out scientific experiments in weightless conditions. Many different types of experiments can take place both inside and outside this space laboratory.

ESA also made the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), a series of spacecrafts without people inside which gave spare parts as well as food, air and water to the ISS. The cargo craft delivered food, fuel, equipment and other supplies between 2008 and 2014.

The Advanced Closed Loop System (ACLS) is an important part of the ISS because it helps our astronauts breathe by turning carbon dioxide, which astronauts breathe out, into oxygen! For many years, oxygen was made from water (which is made of hydrogen and oxygen) that was brought from Earth. But with this new system, astronauts can save enough water to fill a big bathtub every year (and save lots of money)! This system is really important for future space missions to the Moon and Mars, as it helps astronauts live in space longer without needing as many supplies from Earth.

Once astronauts arrive on the ISS, they usually spend about six months there, conducting science experiments and taking care of the station. The ISS has more living space than a normal six-bedroom house, including sleeping quarters, bathrooms, a gym, and a special ESA-built window called the Cupola that gives them a 360-degree view of Earth.

In total, more than 3,600 researchers have conducted over 2,500 experiments aboard the ISS. Astronauts also have some free time to look out the window, chat with family, and enjoy hobbies!

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Imagine walking in space and flying around the Earth at more than 27,000 km/h! This is what hundreds of spacewalkers have experienced in the last 50 years. Spacewalks (officially known as Extravehicular Activity or EVA) are an essential part of working in space. They are used to install new equipment and experiments, and to carry out repairs. Almost 1,000 hours of spacewalks have been needed to build and maintain the International Space Station since 1998.

Spacewalkers wear protective suits when they enter the airless vacuum of space. These suits have many different layers which keep the wearers at the right temperature, enable them to breathe, and protect them from harmful radiation. The oxygen pressure inside the suits is lower than in the Space Station. As a result, astronauts have to spend about four hours breathing oxygen inside an airlock before they can step outside.

There are two different pressure suits stored on the ISS. The American suit has two sections: a hard upper torso and a flexible lower torso. These sections connect at the waist. The astronaut’s legs are pushed into the trousers, then the arms and upper body are placed in the upper section. The Russian suit has a hard upper section with a back door which also houses the life support system. This makes it easier to put on single-handed. Both suits have separate gloves and helmets.

Spacewalkers are often carried from place to place on the end of a robotic arm. There are also special hand rails to help them move around. To stop them floating away and being lost in space, they are connected to the Station by thin cords. Spacewalks can last for many hours. The record is held by Susan Helms and James Voss, who spent nearly 9 hours in space in March 2001.

# data[].attributes.body
For centuries, people dreamed about leaving Earth and travelling to other worlds. Then, in 1957, the Soviet Union made the first small step into space by launching a small satellite, called Sputnik. The Space Age had begun.

Early space activities were dominated by the United States and the Soviet Union. However, as time went by, Europe and Japan also learned how to build their own satellites and rockets. Today, countries such as China, India, South Korea, Israel and Brazil are developing their own space industries.

During the last 60 years, unmanned probes have been sent towards all of the planets in the Solar System, as well as many satellites, asteroids and comets. Spacecraft have soft-landed on half a dozen worlds, while rovers have driven over the surfaces of the Moon and Mars. The Sun has also been explored in great detail by a fleet of spacecraft.

Many space observatories, such as the Hubble Space Telescope, have been launched to look at the distant Universe. They have sent back some amazing pictures taken in visible light. But they can also observe stars and galaxies at wavelengths that are invisible to human eyes – radio, infrared, ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays. The flood of discoveries has changed the way we look at the Universe.

More than 500 people have also flown in space since Yuri Gagarin paved the way in 1961. 20 people have travelled to the Moon and 12 of them have walked on the Moon. Space stations have been built, and astronauts have learned to live and work in space for many months, or even years.

# data[].attributes.body
Imagine walking in space and flying around the Earth at more than 27,000 km/h! This is what hundreds of space walkers have experienced in the last 50 years. Spacewalks (officially known as Extravehicular Activity or EVA) are an essential part of working in space. They are used to install new equipment and experiments, and to carry out repairs. Almost 1,000 hours of spacewalks have been needed to build and maintain the International Space Station since 1998.

Spacewalkers wear protective suits when they enter the airless vacuum of space. These suits have many different layers which keep the wearers at the right temperature, enable them to breathe, and protect them from harmful radiation. The oxygen pressure inside the suits is lower than in the Space Station. As a result, astronauts have to spend about four hours breathing oxygen inside an airlock before they can step outside.

There are two different pressure suits stored on the ISS. The American suit has two sections: a hard upper torso and a flexible lower torso. These sections connect at the waist. The astronaut’s legs are pushed into the trousers, then the arms and upper body are placed in the upper section. The Russian suit has a hard upper section with a back door which also houses the life support system. This makes it easier to put on single-handed. Both suits have separate gloves and helmets.

Spacewalkers are often carried from place to place on the end of a robotic arm. There are also special hand rails to help them move around. To stop them floating away and being lost in space, they are connected to the Station by thin cords. Spacewalks can last for many hours. The record is held by Susan Helms and James Voss, who spent nearly 9 hours in space in March 2001.

# data[].attributes.body
Imagine walking in space and flying around the Earth at more than 27,000 km/h! This is what hundreds of space walkers have experienced in the last 50 years. Spacewalks (officially known as Extravehicular Activity or EVA) are an essential part of working in space. They are used to install new equipment and experiments, and to carry out repairs. Almost 1,000 hours of spacewalks have been needed to build and maintain the International Space Station since 1998.

Spacewalkers wear protective suits when they enter the airless vacuum of space. These suits have many different layers which keep the wearers at the right temperature, enable them to breathe, and protect them from harmful radiation. The oxygen pressure inside the suits is lower than in the Space Station. As a result, astronauts have to spend about four hours breathing oxygen inside an airlock before they can step outside.

There are two different pressure suits stored on the ISS. The American suit has two sections: a hard upper torso and a flexible lower torso. These sections connect at the waist. The astronaut’s legs are pushed into the trousers, then the arms and upper body are placed in the upper section. The Russian suit has a hard upper section with a back door which also houses the life support system. This makes it easier to put on single-handed. Both suits have separate gloves and helmets.

Spacewalkers are often carried from place to place on the end of a robotic arm. There are also special hand rails to help them move around. To stop them floating away and being lost in space, they are connected to the Station by thin cords. Spacewalks can last for many hours. The record is held by Susan Helms and James Voss, who spent nearly 9 hours in space in March 2001.