Dr. Rosemary Coogan, a Belfast-born astrophysicist, is undergoing intensive training as a European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut for her first mission to space. Selected as part of the ESA's 2022 class, she is expected to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) before 2030, marking a significant milestone in her career.
Dr. Coogan was chosen from an incredibly competitive pool of over 22,500 applicants. Her journey from Northern Ireland to the forefront of European space exploration highlights a lifelong passion for science and the cosmos, which she recently shared with young enthusiasts during a Science Week event in Dundalk, Co. Louth.
Key Takeaways
- Dr. Rosemary Coogan, born in Belfast, is one of five new career astronauts selected by the European Space Agency in 2022.
- She was chosen from a field of more than 22,500 candidates for the highly competitive program.
- Her first mission is anticipated to be to the International Space Station before the year 2030.
- Training includes physically and mentally demanding exercises, such as underwater spacewalk simulations at NASA lasting six hours per session.
- Future opportunities for ESA astronauts could include missions to the moon and commercial space stations.
A Childhood Dream Realized
For Dr. Coogan, the path to becoming an astronaut has been the realization of a long-held ambition. Currently based in Germany for her training, she maintains strong connections to her birthplace. "I spent a lot of time in Belfast. I still have family here," she explained, recalling frequent visits during school holidays.
Her fascination with space began early, driven by a deep curiosity about the universe. She described the motivation behind her career choice as a powerful attraction to the vastness of space.
"The pull of space, the immensity of it, the incredible beauty, all the questions it raised looking into the sky at night, that pulled me to it," Dr. Coogan stated.
The opportunity to apply for the ESA astronaut corps came at a pivotal moment in her career. Having completed her PhD and in her early 30s, the timing aligned perfectly. The ESA does not have a regular recruitment cycle, making each selection process a rare event.
"It has been a childhood dream to become an astronaut and I feel incredibly lucky that I have been selected for this opportunity," she added.
The Grueling Path of an Astronaut Candidate
Becoming an astronaut involves far more than academic achievement. Dr. Coogan's training regimen is designed to prepare her for the extreme conditions of spaceflight and life in orbit. The program is comprehensive and demanding, covering a wide range of skills necessary for survival and mission success.
From 22,500 to 5
Dr. Coogan is part of an elite group. The ESA's 2022 astronaut class was selected from 22,500 applications, making the selection process one of the most competitive in the world. She is one of only five career astronauts chosen in that cycle.
Her training includes centrifuge sessions to simulate high G-forces during launch and re-entry, as well as survival training to prepare for emergency landing scenarios in remote locations. However, she identified one part of her preparation as the most challenging yet.
Mastering the Spacewalk
A significant portion of her training involved learning to conduct extravehicular activities (EVAs), more commonly known as spacewalks. Dr. Coogan spent seven months at NASA's facilities in the United States for this specialized preparation. The primary training tool is a massive swimming pool containing a full-scale mockup of the ISS, where astronauts learn to maneuver in bulky, pressurized suits.
"These are very, very heavy suits. In a 1G environment you feel that," she explained. "They're very tough to move in, they're pressurised, it takes a lot of physical and mental strength."
To simulate the weightlessness of space, the suits are made neutrally buoyant underwater. Dr. Coogan completed 11 underwater dives, with each session lasting a grueling six hours. These training missions are so physically taxing that they can only be performed every few weeks to allow the body adequate time to recover.
Mission to the ISS and a Future Beyond
Dr. Coogan's immediate objective is her first mission to the International Space Station. This orbiting laboratory has been a cornerstone of international cooperation in space for over two decades, providing a unique platform for scientific research in microgravity.
The Future of Human Spaceflight
While the ISS is the current primary destination for European astronauts, the landscape of space exploration is rapidly changing. The Artemis program, led by NASA with ESA as a key partner, aims to return humans to the Moon. Additionally, the rise of commercial space stations is expected to create new opportunities for astronauts in low-Earth orbit after the ISS is eventually decommissioned.
Looking beyond her initial flight, Dr. Coogan is preparing for a long and varied career. The future of human spaceflight is expanding, with new destinations and platforms on the horizon.
"We're talking about the ISS as the first mission. But post ISS, there's going to be more stations going around the earth. There's huge interest in commercial stations," she noted. "We're going back around the moon, that's starting again already from next year with the first crewed mission going around the moon and of course well beyond that as well so there's a hugely long career to look forward to."
Inspiring the Next Generation
During her appearance in Dundalk, Dr. Coogan spoke to an audience of young space enthusiasts. The event, organized by scientist and space communicator Dr. Niamh Shaw, aimed to bring science directly to communities across Ireland.
Dr. Shaw emphasized the significance of having an active ESA astronaut engage with the public. "Given the fact she is the latest cohort of astronauts recruited by the ESA, everyone is looking to the moon and the likelihood of us seeing Rosemary's footsteps on the moon is very high," Dr. Shaw commented.
As Dr. Coogan continues her preparations, her journey serves as a powerful example of how a passion for the unknown can lead to extraordinary opportunities, inspiring a new generation to look up at the stars and dream of their own place among them.