A talk by Matthieu Komorowski from TBS24

1. “Failure is an option”
(Journey of an Astronaut Candidate)
Matthieu Komorowski MD PhD
Clinical Senior Lecturer, Imperial College London
Intensive Care Consultant, Charing Cross Hospital

3. Would you go?

4. • Challenger / Columbia / Soyuz 1 / Soyuz 11 / Apollo 1 …
Would you go?

7. © ESA

8. Human
Research
Program
© Google / NASA
[Aviat Space Envir Med, 2013]

11. [Credit: James Urquhart]

12. 0
500
1000
1500
2000
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2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Kms
Number of activities Running Cycling

14. 11 February 2021

15. Minimum criteria
• Being a citizen of an ESA member (or associate member) state
• Master's degree in the Natural Sciences, Medicine, Engineering,
Mathematics/Computer Sciences (plus three years of professional
experience), or accreditation as an experimental test pilot
• Fluency in English and another language
• Hearing capacity of 25 dB or better per ear
• A current class 2 pilot's medical certificate
• Under the age of 50
• Between 150 and 190 cm tall
• “Normal weight" / BMI range
https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Careers_at_ESA/ESA_Astro
naut_Selection/Astronaut_selection_2021-22_FAQs

16. Psychological / intellectual requirements
• It is paramount that astronauts work well in a
team, even in confined spaces and under
stressful conditions. Experience supporting
effective teamwork to reach challenging group
objectives.
• Space travel is associated with many risks and
dangers. Experience in activities associated
with personal exposure, which required from
them a sound risk management capability.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills, the ability
to rapidly assimilate and synthesise complex
information and sound decision-making
capabilities.
• Good reasoning capability, memory and
concentration skills, aptitude for spatial
orientation, psychomotor coordination and
manual dexterity.
• A candidate’s personality should show high
motivation, flexibility, gregariousness, empathy,
non-aggression and emotional stability.

18. Step 1: CV and Personal Statement

19. 22,523

21. 22,523 1,361

22. Test Centre, German Aerospace Centre
Institute of Aerospace Medicine
Department of Aviation and Space Psychology
Step 2: Psychometric tests

23. Thanks Tim!

24. Let’s try!
[Credit: www.pilotest.fr]

25. Let’s try!
[Credit: www.pilotest.fr]

27. Let’s try!
[Credit: www.pilotest.fr]

29. Let’s try!
[Credit: www.pilotest.fr]

32. 22,523 1,361 ~400

33. Thanks Aaron!

34. EMail

35. 22,523 1,361 ~400 96

36. Step 4:
Medical tests

38. 22,523 1,361 ~400 96 17
~45

39. Final cohort
• Video ceremony

43. [Source: https://focus-mediation.co.uk/]

44. Plum Village,

45. Happiness/
fulfilment
Meaning
Work
Relationships
/ love
Fun /
pleasure
Sense
pleasures
Conditional
happiness

46. Unconditional
happiness
Mindfulness
Happiness/
fulfilment
Meaning
Work
Relationships
/ love
Fun / pleasure
Sense
pleasures
Conditional
happiness

49. Thank you