The European Space Agency (ESA), to up its inclusivity game, has launched its first recruitment drive encouraging women and those with disabilities to join the missions to Moon and eventually, to Mars. This is the first time in 11 years the Space Agency is recruiting new astronauts. The ESA said there are possible openings for a total of 26 permanent and reserve astronauts.
The ESA told Reuters on Tuesday that “time has come” to put differently-abled people on space under an initiative called the Parastronaut Feasibility Project.
The agency also said that since they are expecting a high number of applicants and therefore, aspirants should be prepared to endure a tough eight-week recruitment drive through March 31, which is expected to last till October 2022. This is the first time in a decade that a space agency across the globe has opened up an application process to differently-abled people. David Parker, the agency’s director of human and robotic exploration said, “Representing all parts of our society is a concern that we take very seriously... Diversity at ESA should not only address the origin, age, background or gender of our astronauts, but also perhaps physical disabilities”.
The International Paralympic Committee will advise the ESA on selection.
The move comes in light of a recent report by the Associated Press that only 65 of more than 560 people who have been to space were women of the 65, 51 were Americans.
