More than ten years can pass between each time there is an astronaut admission to the European Space Agency (ESA). Because once someone gets a place, there is “no one” who stops. This time, ESA received 23,000 applicants from all over the world. Among them around 320 Norwegians. But no Norwegian got a place among the 17 who were recently chosen for the prestigious programme. Astronaut candidate Nima Shahinian believes that should not have been possible. – We have extremely talented people who have applied. The fact that a Norwegian did not get a place this year is probably more about politics than skills. Why is ESA looking for new astronauts? They will build a space station that orbits the moon, named Gateaway. This station will make it easier to explore both the moon and eventually Mars. Nima J. Shahinian’s ambition is to become Norway’s first commercial astronaut. But he wants government colleagues. Photo: Thomas Marthinsen / news The narrow eye of the needle ESA has previously only searched for astronauts three times since 1978 – the last was in 2008. A Norwegian candidate has never been selected. Despite the fact that Norway has been one of the member countries since 1987, and has paid an annual membership fee. Recently, we injected 1.6 billion into the European cooperation. Norway’s payments to ESA consist of: Norway’s payments to ESA consist of: An annual quota (mandatory part) based on each country’s net national income. A contribution to ESA’s Voluntary programs which is paid every 3 years and is determined by each individual country for each period. Norway’s annual quota for 2023 is NOK 219.2 million. ESA’s astronauts are one of many activities financed under this annual quota. Norway’s contribution to ESA’s voluntary programs for this period was NOK 1.6 billion. ESA develops and implements the civilian European space initiative and is the largest research and development organization in Europe. The Norwegian space environment receives almost all of its assignments from ESA. Source: Norsk romfart – It’s a narrow needle’s eye, but I believe that it was about time that one of the places went to Norway, considering everything we contribute, and not least how many talented people we have in this country. 30 years ago, physicist Gaute Einevoll was close to becoming the first Norwegian astronaut, but he was beaten at the finish line by Sweden’s Christer Fuglesang. Niels Mykleby also made it far in this year’s admission, but had his childhood dream crushed. – Gone old-fashioned Nima Shahinian (40) is one of those fighting to get the Norwegian flag on a space suit. He was actually supposed to be the first Norwegian in space in 2022. But due to corona, the training was postponed for a year. And when the war broke out, he chose to leave the Russian space station he was attached to. He did not apply for ESA admission himself, and has tried to get to space on his own machine through commercial channels. Nima Shahinian in a pool during an astronaut exercise in Russia. He just finished his basic education before war broke out in Ukraine. But he believes that the lack of Norwegian representatives internationally is very unfortunate. – Norwegian ESA candidates should have received significantly more support from the Norwegian Space Center and Norwegian Space Agency, as well as the government. Other member states have a larger support program and lobby in a different way, he claims. – Norway does not make enough demands. It is typically Norwegian to be the smartest in the class and sit in the back row and watch. Willing to inspire young people Shahinian believes there is a lack of external communication from the Norwegian Space Centre, which is a government agency under the Ministry of Trade and Fisheries. – Norwegian space travel is technologically and intellectually far ahead, but has become old-fashioned in how we communicate all the wonderful things we do, and therefore all the good things are tucked away and hidden. Now Shahinian believes that we need a Norwegian role model to promote the investment in science, engineering and natural sciences among the country’s children and young people. – It is the Magnus Carlsen effect. “Nobody” was interested in chess until we got a big international player. Thomas Reiter performed the first spacewalk by an ESA astronaut during the ESA/Russian EuroMir ’95 mission to the Mir space station. Photo: ESA – Not our job Arvid Bertheau Johannessen at the Norwegian Space Center believes that the marketing in this round has been both good and forward-looking. And that they got a lot of competent applicants for admission. – Has Norway been too poor to promote the Norwegian candidates then? – I don’t think so. We cannot intervene in the selection process itself. It is a process that is run very professionally and closed by ESA. Norway must ensure that good candidates are procured through marketing, according to the subject manager. Something he believes they succeeded in doing this year. – We have marketed the recording this time more than ever, and received an incredible number of good applicants. – But should we put more pressure on ESA, isn’t it “our turn” to get an astronaut? – There is no country that has any claim to get an astronaut to ESA. It is selected according to strict criteria and a series of tests, and it is a needle’s eye that the best candidates get through. Timeline for astronaut seekers Photo: NASA–S. Kimbrough Application deadline: 18 June 2021. Appointments: Towards the end of 2022. The process is divided into six different stages: Screening: Several rounds of screening on the basis of the documents submitted with the application. Test phase 1: Cognitive, technical, motor coordination and personality testing. Test phase 2: Psychometric testing, exercises and practical tests. Test phase 3: The applicants’ physical and mental abilities are measured. Interview round 1: Panel interview where applicants are tested on technical and behavioral competence. Interview round 2: Final phase of the selection process and interview with ESA’s Director General. More information can be found in the Astronaut Finder Handbook. Source: ESA, European Space Agency – There is no question of kicking in doors at ESA to get a Norwegian candidate. That’s not our job. Arvid Bertheau Johannessen at the Norwegian Space Center is subject manager for manned space travel and exploration, and has been the contact person for the ESA campaign. Photo: Stig Jarnes / Norsk Romsenter – Little country He says that there were Norwegian candidates right up until the very last rounds in a selection process that took over a year. – Norway is a small country. The larger countries have a larger pool of applicants because they also have more people to take off. Then of course there will be more people who are qualified. But we had a very good starting point this year. – Are you good at communicating the subject to children and young people? – The space center has no separate budget for training and information for children and young people, but we contribute as best we can within the mandate we have, which is primarily aimed at the industry and institute sector. He adds: – We spread information about opportunities in space travel for children, young people and not least students on our websites, we participate in events organized by universities and colleges and work closely with Andøya Space Education, which actually runs ESA’s teaching office in Norway.
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No Norwegians to space – did not progress in astronaut admissions – news Nordland
