The Luxembourg Space Agency has been in operation for five years. To celebrate, the LSA has launched ‘Astronaut for a Day’.
Students between the ages of 13 and 18 are eligible to apply, under the condition that they remain enrolled for the 2023/24 school year. Students with special needs may also participate if their health condition allows them to fly.
On 27 and 28 September, 25 finalists will participate in a team-building event that will feature a ‘zero gravity flight,’ where they will be able to float for a few seconds.
Each participant must complete the following 4 phases and a medical check to be eligible:
- A 60-second video, briefly introducing yourself
- A test in logical thinking (developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Education)
- A fitness test (developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Sports)
- An online interview
- A medical check (to check if everyone is fit to fly)
The first phase runs from now until the beginning of April. The logic tests will take place on 17 April and the fitness tests on 11 and 16 May.
The interview phase will take place between 12 and 16 June, before the 25 finalists are announced on 7 July 2023.
If you want to become an ESA astronaut, you have to go through a similar procedure. Raphaël Liégois is one of the newest astronauts to pass the European Space Agency’s selection. The Belgian-Luxembourger will accompany the young “astronauts” throughout the process and provide advice, as he revealed in an RTL interview.
For Minister of the Economy Franz Fayot, one of the goals is to inspire young people to join the space sector in Luxembourg. “Many young people dream of becoming astronauts, and now they have the opportunity to gain some experience in the field,” says Minister of Education Claude Meisch.
Minister of Sports Georges Engel said that to be an astronaut you don’t have to be a top athlete, but you do have to have a certain stamina.
