Rosemary Coogan from the UK has achieved a significant milestone in her career by graduating from space training as a new European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut. Along with five other astronauts, she received her astronaut certification after completing one year of rigorous basic astronaut training.
Ms. Coogan, an astrophysicist with multiple degrees, was selected to join the ESA’s astronaut training programme in 2022 after surpassing over 22,500 applicants. She is set to become the UK’s third astronaut, following in the footsteps of Helen Sharman and Tim Peake.
Basic astronaut training involved mastering various skills such as spacecraft systems, spacewalking, flight engineering, robotics, and life support systems. The astronauts will now move on to pre-assignment and mission-specific training, preparing for future missions to the International Space Station (ISS) and beyond.
During the graduation ceremony, Ms. Coogan expressed her long-standing dream of becoming an astronaut and her fascination with space. The astronaut class of 2022 has been named the Hoppers, following the tradition of previous classes.
The UK Space Agency’s head of space exploration, Libby Jackson, praised the inclusion of British astronauts in the ESA programme, highlighting their role as champions for human spaceflight and the UK space sector. The new astronauts will be assigned to missions on the ISS to conduct scientific experiments.
Ms. Coogan’s graduation has been celebrated by NI Space, a supporter of the space sector in Northern Ireland. Robert Hill, space adviser and cluster manager at NI Space, expressed hope that her appointment will inspire more young people in the region to consider a career in the space industry.
As Ms. Coogan and her fellow astronauts embark on their journey to space, they will continue training, maintaining physical fitness, and engaging in public relations and education activities. The space sector in Northern Ireland is poised for growth, with Ms. Coogan’s achievement marking a significant moment for the region’s involvement in space exploration.