Sender: 	Bettina.Pips@esa.int
Date: 	Wed, 9 Jul 2008 14:15:59 +0200
From: 	astronautselection@esa.int
To: 	withers@bu.edu
Subject: 	Congratulations!


Dear Astronaut Applicant,

congratulations!  We have evaluated your application for the ESA 
astronaut positions and have decided to invite you to the next round in 
the selection process. You will receive the actual invitation with all 
the necessary and detailed information for the first round of 
psychological tests in the coming days or weeks from our Human Resources 
Division at ESOC.  

Today, I would like to take the opportunity to outline what lies ahead. 
 The remaining selection process will consist of the following stages:

1.        Psychological Test I, one full day in Hamburg (Germany).
2.        Psychological Test II, one full day at EAC, Cologne, (Germany).
3.        Medical Test, one full week either at MEDES, Toulouse 
(France) or at DLR, Cologne (Germany).
4.        Professional Interviews (Location to be determined)
5.        Decision by the Director General of ESA

The Psychological Test I will be performed in July and August.  We will 
analyse the test results after the last group has been tested. 
Therefore, we will inform you of the outcome as from the beginning of 
September 2008.  
 
The second series of psychological tests is scheduled to begin on 15 
September.  About 200 applicants will be invited for this phase, which 
will last until the beginning of December 2008.  Current plans are to 
have around 80 applicants enter the medical test process, which is due 
to begin in mid January and may extend into the first weeks of February 
2009. The professional interviews for about 30 to 40 individuals are 
scheduled to take place in March 2009 with the target to reach the final 
decisions regarding the next class of four new astronaut candidates in 
April 2009. Although it is our interest to avoid any shifts in the 
schedule, please take note that they may nonetheless occur.

Please be aware that even if you are invited to attend the various tests 
at the beginning of a given stage, we will not be able to inform you of 
the outcome or the status of your application until the end of that 
stage.  This is due to the fact that we must have all results at our 
disposal before deciding who shall proceed to the next stage.  We kindly 
ask for your understanding of this process.

Finally, you will find attached a non-disclosure form and an information 
sheet outlining our requirements regarding the medical questionnaire. 
 We require the non-disclosure form because the astronaut selection 
process is, as you are undoubtedly aware, of very sensitive nature.  We 
want to ensure to the best of our possibilities that all applicants can 
perform the related tests in an undisturbed environment. The medical 
form is necessary to evaluate personal and family medical history and is 
an integral part of the medical evaluation process for astronauts. 
Please read both documents carefully, fill in the forms as required and 
return them so as to meet the indicated deadlines.

I would like to wish you all the very best for your participation in the 
astronaut selection process.


Yours sincerely,


Michel Tognini
Head of the European Astronaut Centre
European Space Agency