In the demanding selection procedure, five other candidates were also accepted for the European team of astronauts.

On the 20th of May 2009, the European Space Agency ESA presented the new European astronauts to the public. Alexander Gerst from Baden-Württemberg was chosen from among 8,413 candidates. In the demanding selection procedure, five other candidates were also accepted for the European team of astronauts. The new astronauts will undergo training in the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) on the grounds of the Deutsche Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR = German Aerospace Centre) in Cologne).

Together with Alexander Gerst, Thomas Pesquet from France, Samantha Cristoforetti and Luca Parmitano from Italy, Timothy Peake from Great Britain and Andreas Mogensen from Denmark will start their training. The decision made in favour of the six candidates took into account not only the flying opportunities planned in the context of the ESA programs and activities but also the agreement between ASI the Italian space agency and NASA. This agreement was reached in consultation with the Italian authorities and in line with the decision of the ESA Council from 2002 to establish a single corps of astronauts in Europe.

The new European astronaut, Alexander Gerst from Germany, was born in 1976, studied geophysics at Karlsruhe University and originally comes from Künzelsau, a town in Baden-Württemberg. Thorough training, a unique workplace and huge challenges await the selected astronauts. The astronauts of the European corps of astronauts will be trained for assignments on the international space station (ISS), mainly in the "Columbus" European research laboratory, and for later manned missions.

"A very good day for the German space industry"

"I am pleased that Alexander Gerst was chosen to become a member of the European team of astronauts. For the German space industry, this is a very good day", said Prof. Johann-Dietrich Wörner, Chairman of the Board of DLR. Wörner continued: "This places Alexander Gerst as a German ESA astronaut in the long tradition of German cosmonauts and astronauts. From Sigmund Jähn to Thomas Reiter, Germans in space have always done their part when it comes to national and international manned space missions. Missions that take the technologically feasible to its limits and have always benefited humankind in one way or another."

The search for new astronauts had begun exactly one year ago, on the 19th of May, 2008. The procedure was open to applicants from all 18 ESA member states.

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