After a year of intensive training, Rosemary Coogan, 33, has officially become an astronaut, alongside four other European candidates. She received her astronaut badge at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, from astronaut Alexander Gerst.
Dr. Coogan has an impressive academic background with degrees in physics and astronomy from Durham University, as well as a PhD in astronomy from the University of Sussex. In 2022, she was selected from over 22,500 applicants to join the prestigious ESA astronaut training program.
This graduation marks a significant milestone for Dr. Coogan and the United Kingdom. She follows in the footsteps of Helen Sharman, the first Briton in space in 1989, and Tim Peake, who visited the International Space Station in 2015.
The newly certified astronauts will now undergo pre-assignment and mission-specific training, preparing them for future missions to the ISS and beyond. This is an exciting time for the UK space program, and Dr. Coogan’s achievement is a testament to her hard work and dedication.
