Physics World Stories Podcast · Physics World

Training for the stars: Rosemary Coogan on becoming an astronaut

·31 min·2 clips

Rosemary Coogan shares how a childhood dream led her to apply for ESA's astronaut program at age 30.

Rosemary Coogan, an astrophysicist and ESA astronaut selected in 2022, discusses her ongoing training and path to space with host Andrew Glester. This episode details her transition from studying distant galaxy evolution to preparing for missions to the International Space Station and potentially the Moon. Coogan shares insights into the extensive, often classroom-based preparation required for life and work in orbit. Her academic background includes a master's degree from Durham University and a PhD focused on how galaxies interact in clusters, leading to star bursts. Basic astronaut training covered a wide international syllabus, including weeks dedicated to astrophysics, human biology, meteorology, and climate science. Survival training for harsh landing environments, like winter and water survival, is a standard part of preparation. A significant portion of training involves practicing spacewalks in a large pool at Johnson Space Center, using buoyancy adjustments to simulate microgravity. Coogan spent seven months in Houston for EVA training, learning to move in the EMU suit and install equipment on mock-ups of the ISS. Parabolic flights provide 22-second windows of reduced gravity to practice tasks like using tools and performing adapted CPR procedures. Medical training is crucial, given the challenges of treating serious illness in space and the reliance on telemedicine. Language learning, particularly Russian, is mandatory due to international partnerships on the ISS. She notes that diversity in background and approach within her astronaut cohort enhances team problem-solving. The future of low-Earth orbit will shift toward commercial space stations after the ISS retires around 2030. Coogan's colleague, Sophie Adenot, is scheduled for an ISS mission in 2026, with assignments influenced by ESA member state contributions. Coogan is currently training to support Adenot's mission from Mission Control while also learning to fly planes. One surprising insight is the method for performing CPR in microgravity, which involves an astronaut bracing their feet on a ceiling to apply downward force. The pool training, while a good approximation, differs from actual spacewalks due to water drag and gravity's effect on blood flow. Coogan expresses a personal fascination with how the violent processes she studied in galaxies would appear to the naked eye from space. She enjoys reading both science fiction and classic novels, considering the latter a valuable connection to Earth during isolation. The tone is conversational and educational, blending personal anecdote with detailed explanations of astronaut preparation. Glester's curiosity as a non-space enthusiast provides a relatable grounding for the extraordinary topics. Listeners interested in the day-to-day realities of astronaut training and the crossover between astrophysics and human spaceflight will find this episode compelling. Those seeking highly technical physics discussions or debates on space policy might find the focus too personal and procedural.

As heard by us

A focused look at the training behind a future astronaut mission.

Rosemary Coogan's path into astronaut training gives this Physics World Stories episode its shape, turning it into a careful look at the work behind a future trip to the International Space Station, with Artemis still in view.

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Why you'd press play

Russian lessons, buoyancy drills, and a Houston pool used to rehearse life outside the ISS.

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