Training for space

Overview of ESA project astronaut Marcus Wandt’s training for his mission to space.

The Swedish astronaut will travel to the International Space Station on Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) no earlier than January 2024. He will spend up to 14 days in orbit conducting microgravity research and educational activities.

Marcus Wandt started intensive training for his mission in June 2023. Lessons on payloads and simulators take place in training facilities and space centres around the world. Each of the partners is in charge of training astronauts on the elements that they contribute to the International Space Station.

Marcus’s training in Europe focuses on the Columbus module systems and the experiments he will conduct during his Muninn mission. Marcus spent over 100 hours of training to fully qualify to operate, monitor and maintain Columbus and its experiments.

Spaceflight instructors adjust their lessons to his level and that has helped speed up the training. While he is yet to experience microgravity, Marcus has a solid understanding of flight vehicle systems, their main safety features and how to interpret flight data.

Marcus was one of the 17 new astronaut candidates chosen from over 22 500 applicants from across ESA Member States in November 2022.

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