AI Enhances Astronaut Training as ESA Pushes for Strategic Autonomy
Advanced systems, regulatory reforms, and geopolitical shifts reshape astronaut preparation and Europe’s evolving space ambitions
Artificial intelligence is beginning to influence how the European Space Agency (ESA) trains its astronauts, offering new ways to simulate missions, streamline medical instruction, and support long-term mental resilience in extreme environments. Though AI is not yet at the core of ESA’s astronaut curriculum, several training modules already incorporate intelligent systems, including virtual reality and real-time diagnostics.
ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher confirmed the direction: “We have just started a roadmap on AI within space.”
He added that AI is already used across space activities, such as on the Hera mission to detect and avoid obstacles, and for pattern recognition in Earth observation data.
British astronaut Rosemary Coogan stated that, although she had not yet encountered specific AI-driven training, such tools are being developed. She explained that distance learning capabilities for the Columbus module are being expanded and may include AI in the future to increase efficiency.
Fellow British astronaut Meganne Christian said researchers are exploring AI-based tools to support astronauts’ psychological well-being during missions. These are currently at a basic research stage, with experiments focusing on AI interaction for stress and isolation management.
ESA is already trialing such support systems. Aschbacher noted that the ISS hosts a small AI-powered device called CIMON (Crew Interactive MObile CompanioN) that interacts with astronauts to help improve their mood.
The integration of intelligent systems in training and operations is part of a broader effort by ESA to modernize its capabilities, as the agency also prepares for geopolitical contingencies and a wider push for European space autonomy.
UK Astronauts’ Intensive Training
The discussion took place during the UK Space Conference in London on July 16, 2025, where ESA showcased its newest British astronauts—John McFall, Rosemary Coogan, and Meganne Christian—who shared personal insights from their two years of rigorous training.
McFall, who lost his right leg in a motorcycle accident as a teenager and now wears a high-performance prosthetic limb, is the first astronaut selected as part of ESA’s “Fly!” feasibility study. The program investigates whether astronauts with physical disabilities can perform full-duration missions.
McFall said the overarching goal of Fly is to clear the path for a professional astronaut with a physical disability to live and work as part of a fully integrated team aboard the International Space Station or other platforms. He added that ESA’s study had demonstrated that this goal is technically feasible.
Coogan said her scientific education and service with the Royal Naval Reserves had prepared her well for life in confined and high-pressure environments. Christian reflected on her work at Concordia Station in Antarctica, where she endured isolation, physical hardship, and emotional strain as part of a small international team—a direct analogue to long-duration spaceflight.
All three astronauts noted that public engagement is an essential part of their role.
Christian explained that communication skills were assessed during the selection process, including responses to hypothetical questions from journalists, children, and political figures. Coogan added that media interaction was part of their basic training.
ESA Prepares for Budget Decisions
ESA is finalizing a €23 billion proposal for its next triennial ministerial conference, scheduled for November 2025. This process will determine the strategic priorities and program funding for the next three to five years.
Aschbacher emphasized the importance of the moment: “The ministerial preparation is always very intense and critical. We have them every three years. It is defining the strategy and the priorities of Europe in space for the next years to come.”
While only 5% of ESA’s budget is directly linked to U.S. programs such as the International Space Station and Artemis, this portion includes astronaut missions. Aschbacher said delays in the U.S. budget—particularly affecting NASA—could have consequences for ESA’s human spaceflight plans.
“It is premature to speculate,” he said. “But I can assure you that flying astronauts to space, doing experiments there, because this is the whole purpose of our astronaut missions, is a top priority for ESA and for me as Director General.”
Regarding the UK’s role, Aschbacher explained that the country’s industrial return is guaranteed under ESA’s geo-return rule, which ties national investments to contracts awarded to local firms. He noted that the UK’s space strategy, focused on commerce, defense, and autonomy, is well aligned with ESA’s current proposals.
The EU Space Act
On 25 June 2025, the European Commission introduced the EU Space Act, a legislative framework designed to harmonise space regulation across member states. The proposal aims to streamline space operations, boost the competitiveness of EU-based firms, and ensure safety, resilience, and environmental responsibility.
The Act is structured around three pillars: safety, including rules for space object tracking and debris mitigation; resilience, with tailored cybersecurity requirements; and sustainability, which requires operators to assess and reduce their environmental impact.
Aschbacher confirmed that ESA is reviewing the text. He said, “It’s a very long text, as you know—150-plus pages. So it’s a legal text. So you need legal experts and the legal mindset to really read it very carefully.”
While ESA is not directly involved in drafting the Act—since it is not an EU institution—Aschbacher said member states had requested a complete technical assessment. He emphasized that ESA must ensure any regulatory framework supports the competitiveness of European industry.
The Act will apply to both EU and non-EU operators. To ease the transition, the Commission has proposed a support package aimed at SMEs and emerging players. ESA is expected to deliver its formal position on the draft legislation by September 11.
Expanding Role in Strategic Autonomy
ESA’s growing engagement in security and defense was another key theme. Aschbacher explained that member states are asking ESA to take a firmer stance on dual-use and defense-aligned programs.
“This wake-up call, which happened in defense very loudly, is also happening in space,” he said. “There I see a very strong request from my member states to develop and propose programs that increase European autonomy.”
A new initiative, “European Resilience from Space,” is now in early development and would provide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) for European security.
Aschbacher noted that ESA’s flexible legal structure allows coalitions of member states to pursue joint projects without requiring full consensus.
He said ESA’s governance allows small groups of member states to collaborate independently. If three or five countries wish to pursue a joint space project, they can formally request ESA to manage and implement it under existing mechanisms.
As Europe faces greater geopolitical volatility, ESA’s mission is expanding—not just in orbit, but as an engine of technological leadership and continental autonomy.