The specially trained astronaut Shaun the Sheep has been assigned a seat on the Artemis I mission to the Moon. This series of ESA blog posts covers Shaun’s training and preparations leading up to launch.

Becoming an ESA astronaut is extremely competitive. Once selected, ESA astronauts typically spend a minimum of three years of training before flying to space for the first time. Shaun the Sheep has been working hard to complete a fast-track training to space.

There are several phases leading to a spaceflight: basic training, pre-assignment training and assigned crew training.

Shaun visiting the clean room at ESA’s technical centre ESTEC in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. Credits: ESA-SJM Photography
Shaun visiting the clean room at ESA’s technical centre ESTEC in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. Credits: ESA/Aardman-SJM Photography

Basic training is an introduction to the fundamentals of spaceflight. During this initial phase, astronauts complete survival training and learn special skills like robotic operations.

Training is tailored to the trainees’ background. Each astronaut completes the different phases and reaches proficiency at a different pace, depending on their previous experience, skills and tasks assigned to a mission. Shaun the Sheep is no exception.

Once he was assigned to the Artemis I mission, mission-specific training began. During this period, Shaun had the opportunity to meet some other astronauts and learned from them how to efficiently work together once in space.

Across the globe

Astronaut training is decentralised and demands intensive coordination between the different space agencies involved. ESA’s training team ensures all European astronauts are well prepared and equipped for the next phase of space exploration.

Spaceflight training is challenging to follow and to organise. If you consider that 30 to 40 astronauts undergo training in one year at five different sites, you realise that all this calls for a tremendous organisational effort.

Training for Shaun the Sheep’s mission included sessions at ESA’s technical centre ESTEC in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, and NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.  Astronauts are also trained in taking payloads and simulators around the world to learn how to run experiments and react to emergencies.

Shaun in front of a model Orion crew capsule at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, USA.
Shaun in front of a model Orion crew capsule at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, USA. Credits: ESA/NASA/Aardman

On the road to space, astronauts also take part in other activities too, such as visiting space industry hubs or running technology demonstrations. For example, Shaun the Sheep had the chance to visit a space hub not far from his home – the European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT). At ESA’s first and newest facility in the United Kingdom, there was an opportunity to test new tools, such as virtual reality sets, learn about satellites and join virtual lessons.

Shaun at ESA's European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT). Credits: ESA
Shaun at ESA’s European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT). Credits: ESA/Aardman