[simoncoggins]

That wasn't my experience. I got through the first 3 rounds in ESA's most recent astronaut selection, and near the end about half of the candidates were from a military or commercial flight background. The rest typically had significant research experience but almost all them had some kind of flight experience too (private license, parachuting, stunt flying, gliding, etc).

[omegant]

That´s cool!!, I knew I didn´t have a chance but I wanted to see how far I could go in the selection process (not very far, I was discarded before the first stage). The requirments in the application form gave the sensation that they were looking for a scientist role over pilot. I suppose you still need somebody that has some piloting skills (spacial orientation, fast assesment and resolution of problems and all that), but is not the main astronaut function anymore. I was a bit dissapointed about how much of an astronaut work life ( I mean the whole time she is working for the ESA not just the mission specific training and deployment) is around public relationship almost as somekind of scientific embassador for his country.

I am courious about your experiences during the exams. How did it go?, what kind of people did you meet?.I don´t recall the test order very well, the first one was theorical?, then medical then interview?. I´ll wait till Elon has need of some bigger numbers (and the requirements are lowered or better still plumbeted). A Mars retirement could be cool!

[simoncoggins]

We signed an NDA so I can't say too much, but the first interview was basically an IQ screening - a full day of computer based tests for maths, physics, memory, spatial orientation etc. The second interview was much more in depth, hands on and focused more on team work. Both were physically and mentally exhausting.

The people I met, particularly at the second interview were pretty remarkable: smart, driven but also friendly and down-to-earth. It was quite intimidating to spend 5 minutes talking to someone and find out they have a PhD in bio-informatics, a masters in computer science and oh, by the way, they fly acrobatics in their spare time.

Still the whole thing was great fun and I came away pretty impressed with the process (and off course the few who got selected at the end).

[omegant]

Awesome thanks! It could had been great to pass a couple of levels just for the experience, but my online registration looked very very empty compared to the curriculums that you mention. Did you prepare for the tests?, I don't recall if there was any kind of study list available.