"I regret to inform you that after very careful consideration, it has been decided not to retain your application for the post of Astronaut. However, should you not object, we would like to keep your file on record for other career opportunities at ESA and contact you if a post which matches your profile should emerge."

Some interesting statistics on the astronaut applicants which crazyscot pointed me at some time ago and I forgot to link to at the time.

So, about 4 weeks ago now I trooped off to get my class 2 pilot medical certificate. The doctor doing the test said I was about the 7th person he'd had through recently getting a cert specifically for ESA, most of them European multi-lingual people and/or PhD students. I passed the cert with no problems, as expected, and had it uploaded to ESA within about an hour of getting back home.

I got my login within 36 hours, but I'd also discovered by then that what had been originally "you need a university degree or really good pilot skills" had turned into "we want a PhD if possible, Masters acceptable". Between that and the news of my 'competition' from the doctor, I was a bit intimidated for a while, and it kept being easier to let the daily grind take up all my spare time rather than do the form, until I went to France.

With rather more spare time, and the deadline approaching, I gave myself a stern talking to about missed opportunities and tackled the form over several sessions (much love to fanf and louise_e_finch for playing with Charles at these times). It was really quite hard, with the final set of four open-ended "answer in max 750 chars" questions requiring much thought to get just right - I edited each one in Word so I could check my word count before pasting in. I now can't bear to reread them in case they are too trite or whatever.

Some of the facts I needed I didn't have on hand in France, so I finished the form up on Saturday night after arriving home and submitted it there and then. The deadline was midnight on Monday, so I was in plenty of time.

Today I received a confirmation email informing me that they received my application successfully and I will hear back in six weeks time. I did the best I could with the form, but I will not be at all surprised to be turned down in six weeks.

I have a medical booked on 21st May, to get my JAR class 2 certificate.

I have an eye test booked tomorrow, as I'm well overdue. I think it unlikely, but if I do need corrected vision to meet the visual requirements, I want to know in advance so I can turn up ready to pass.

I am doing much better at daily exercise in the last week. I am still too overweight to be happy with the idea of running but long walks, gentle gardening and ballet are all good.

This is the only serious opportunity in my life so far to apply to be an astronaut. I am intending to make a serious application, the best I can do in the time available. I'm not obviously disqualified by the currently-available information on requirements. I can think of several reasons that might disqualify me, but I'm going to let ESA decide that rather than not try at all. If I actually make it through first-stage screening I will consider it a major success.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7360736.stm led me to http://www.esa.int/esaHS/SEMPQG3XQEF_index_0.html

In summary, the European Space Agency is recruiting for new astronauts. The initial application will need to be submitted between 19th May and 15th June 2008. Among the requirements to apply is a JAR-FCL 3 Class 2 pilot medical certificate, or certain equivalents.

No, I don't have one of those, but I can think of at least three people who can tell me how to get one.