To mark the opening of the European Space Agency's first astronaut selection in over a decade, we embark on a journey into the wonderful world of space careers. In this initial episode, ESA Director of Human and Robotic Exploration David Parker introduces the ESA astronaut selection and the qualities ESA is looking for in its new recruits. Host Ally Koehler asks about the newly introduced 'Parastronaut Fly!' feasibility project in which ESA is opening its application process to qualified...

The addition of ESA's Columbus laboratory, and the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) programme, changed the shape of European participation on the International Space Station. But its launch came at a challenging time for human spaceflight. In this episode ESA astronaut Frank De Winne and former ESA International Space Station programme manager Bernardo Patti talk about Columbus' launch on Space Shuttle Atlantis, the tragedy that preceded it, and what the science lab has enabled for Europeans...

It's not just Europeans who have flown into orbit, Europe has also produced some impressive pieces of space-worthy kit. In this episode, hosts Ally Koehler and Stephen Ennis take a look at some of the post-SpaceLab ESA projects that never quite made it, before entering the International Space Station era with guests Philippe Berthe, Frank De Winne, and Alan Thirkettle. Philippe is ESA project manager for the European Service Modules that will power NASA's Orion spacecraft on its mission...

ESA Director General Jan Wörner and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine sit down with hosts Ally Koehler and Stephen Ennis to talk about collaboration and the future of space exploration – including a new space station around the Moon. This episode was recorded just ahead of the 20 year anniversary of humans living and working on the International Space Station on 2 November 2020.  Please note, there are some issues with audio quality due to the nature of recording remotely during a pandemic....

In this episode of our ESA Explores Time and Space series we chat with the first ESA astronaut to fly to space, physicist Ulf Merbold. Ulf flew on the 9th flight of NASA's Space Shuttle programme and the first flight of European-built Spacelab in 1983. As the first west German to fly to space, he talks us through his experiences – including his relationship with the late Sigmund Jähn, what life was like as first non-US citizen on a NASA spacecraft and how the astronauts and cosmonauts he...

One of the first engineers to work on Spacelab Alan Thirkettle talks hosts Ally and Stephen through the unexpected challenges and memorable moments of building a science laboratory for space. This unique European-built research facility flew inside NASA's Space Shuttle. It enabled the first flight of a non-American astronaut on a NASA spacecraft in 1983. It also paved the way for ESA's current laboratory on the International Space Station and the future of research in space.  Related...

In episode one of ESA Explores Time and Space, we explore the early days of Soviet spaceflight in conversation with Romania's first cosmonaut Dorin Prunariu. Dorin was one of 11 Europeans to fly under Russia's Interkosmos programme. In 1978, this programme saw the first European - Czech cosmonaut Vladimir Remek - become the first non-Russian or American to fly to space. Interview with Dorin starts at 05:17.

ESA astronauts Thomas Pesquet and Matthias Maurer take the time to chat while training for upcoming missions to the International Space Station missions at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, USA.  This audio was originally a four-part video series filmed in June 2020. You can watch the full series on ESA's YouTube channel. 

After a brief shutdown of science instruments and a period in ‘safe standby’, ESA’s planetary missions are getting back to what they do best – gathering science data from around the Solar System.   Paolo Ferri, Head of Mission Operations at ESA’s mission control centre in Germany, and Markus Kissler-Patig, Head of Science and Operations at the Agency’s ESAC Astronomy Centre in Spain discuss the extraordinary and challenging times facing teams on the ground, the return to science for four key...

Just a short time after returning from 201 days in orbit on the International Space Station, Ally Koehler talks with ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano about his Beyond mission and life back on the ground. In this episode, Luca talks about everything from what had changed on the Station since his last mission and the infamous AMS-02 spacewalks, to what it's like to be separated from his crew mates and whether he dreams of space. Towards the end of the episode, he also touches on how astronauts...

Dr Aidan Cowley is a science advisor at ESA working with students and researchers on low technology readiness level projects that could shape the way we go forward to the Moon. In this episode, he talks about a few of those projects, the value of humans in space exploration and an alternative use for your kitchen microwave. Next episode will feature a full length interview with ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano just over one week since he returned from the International Space Station. Listen to...

ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano is coming to the end of his six month Beyond mission on the International Space Station. In this episode, hosts Ally Koehler and Stephen Ennis reflect on a few mission highlights and interview ESA flight surgeon Maybritt Kuypers about the challenges of returning an astronaut to Europe.

ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet was launched to the International Space Station for his Proxima mission in November 2016. Having spent Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, Orthodox Christmas and Orthodox New Year's as well as his birthday in orbit, he knows a thing or two about how astronauts mark significant occasions in space. In this episode Thomas and BME/Eurocom coordinator for ESA Andgie Boyd discuss how and when astronauts celebrate and shed light on how a saxophone made it to space.

ESA explores Beyond: L' addestramento degli astronauti. Episodio in italiano: Massimiliano Signori e Flavie Rometsch ci parlano dell' addestramento degli astronauti, ed in particolare cosa imparano al Centro Astronauti Europeo (EAC) a Colonia, ed alcuni aneddotti divertenti. Episode in Italian: Massimiliano Signori and Flavie Rometsch tell us about the training of astronauts, and in particular what they learn at ESA's Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany, along with some funny anecdotes.

ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano enjoys weight training, swimming, cycling and running – but how does he keep fit while in space. In this episode Ally Koehler chats with ESA exercise team lead Nora Petersen about designing a fitness programme for an astronaut and why this is so important for maintaining bone and muscle mass. Later in the episode, Stephen Ennis also talks to ESA biomedical engineer Beate Fischer. Beate explains how biomedical engineers act as advocates for astronaut health and...

The date is set for ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano’s first spacewalk of his Beyond mission. Friday 15 November marks the start of a series of complex spacewalks to service the cosmic-particle-hunting Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02). It is also the first time a European astronaut will take the leading role in the spacewalking duo. In this bonus episode, Luca speaks directly from the International Space Station as he explains the task, its challenges and his feelings before he and NASA...

Six spacewalks (EVA) are scheduled for October 2019, with even more expected in November. As ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano gets ready to exit the Space Station airlock for a series of complex EVAs to repair particle physics experiment module – the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer – we delve into what it takes to prepare for a spacewalk both on the ground and in space. This episode includes content from Luca as well as an interview with head of ESA's EVA and Parabolic Flight Training Unit Hervé...

In questo primo episodio, Antonio Fortunato e Fabio Zecca ci parlano della Stazione Spaziale Internazionale e della seconda missione di Luca Parmitano chiamata Beyond. Potete trovare ulteriori informazioni riguardo Luca e la sua missione in italiano e in inglese visitando il blog: http://blogs.esa.int/luca-parmitano/

ESA Explores èil podcast ufficiale dell'Agenzia Spaziale Europea dedicato alla missione Beyond dell'astronauta Luca Parmitano sulla Stazione Spaziale Internazionale. Restate sintonizzati per ascoltare una serie di episodi bonus in italiano con esperti ESA. Trailer for ESA Explores bonus episodes in Italian – coming soon. 

The International Space Station is a living, breathing workspace. From the creak of the shell expanding and contracting, to fans in the European Columbus module, caution and warning tones and musical events – Ally Koehler, Stephen Ennis and Serena Bertone listen to and discuss a few of the sounds Luca will experience during his Beyond mission. This episode’s guest, Serena Bertone is an astronaut instructor and ESA-BME/Eurocom from Telespazio for ESA. Serena is based at ESA’s astronaut...

ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano will support over 50 European experiments in microgravity during his Beyond mission. Ally and Stephen talk to two of the experts who help facilitate this unique research in space – Chloe Audas of ESA's ISS research planning team and Marco Carrano, an astronaut trainer at ESA's astronaut centre in Cologne, Germany.  

The lead-up to a launch to the International Space Station is steeped in tradition. In this episode, hosts Ally Koehler and Stephen Ennis chat with ESA head of crew support Romain Charles and Luca himself about what is in store for the crew ahead of Luca's launch on 20 July. Crew support carry out a diverse range of activities at all stages of flight to ensure ESA astronauts are able to focus fully on their missions. Luca's launch is the 10th that Romain has been directly involved in and he...

In the very first episode of ESA Explores we chat to ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano about his upcoming second mission to the International Space Station – Beyond. Luca’s first mission, Volare in 2013, saw him spend 166 days onboard the Space Station where he carried out two spacewalks and performed over 40 science experiments in orbit. In July, 2019, Luca will be launched once more to Earth’s orbital outpost from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. He will share this journey in a Russian...

Go behind the scenes of space exploration with this official podcast from the European Space Agency. This upcoming series focuses on ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano’s Beyond mission to the International Space Station.