Group photo with the members of ESA’s astronaut reserve in the training hall of ESA’s European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany. Left to right: Arnaud Prost, Sara García Alonso, Aleš Svoboda, Meganne Christian, ESA’s Director of Human and Robotic Exploration Daniel Neuenschwander, Amelie Schoenenwald, Carmen Possnig, John McFall, Anthea Comellini and Andrea Patassa.
In spring 2026, the members of ESA’s astronaut reserve returned to EAC for the final block of their training. The Astronaut Reserve Training (ART) programme prepares members of the European astronaut reserve by providing the broad technical, operational and scientific foundation required to support future human spaceflight opportunities.