In the six decades of such human space exploration, depending on the definition you take, only 562 people have flown into space. We have not reached the holiday season in space that science fiction once promised us, although the prospect of space flight under the orbital area for extremely affluent people is very close, so space astronauts remain an elite group whose entry is not for the average person. Some readers do have the opportunity to change that, as the European Space Agency has announced a new round of recruitment for astronauts that will open at the end of March.
Unfortunately, for our American readers, the successful applicants must come from ESA member countries, but as they cover a number of European countries, we suggest that many of you may relive your long-held dreams of space travel. You can find out more during a press conference to be held on February 16 and streamed via ESA Web TV. Whoever recruits is likely to not only participate in missions to the ISS, but perhaps also more ambitious planned missions, such as those to the planned Lunar Gateway space station in the Lunar orbit. If you think you have the Euro version of The Right Stuff, you have the eight weeks from the end of March to May 28 to get your application in. Strength!