Toulouse. This Airbusian is in the running to become an astronaut: “It’s unexpected, what happens to me!”
Through Gabriel Kenedi
Published on
At 39, Peïmann Tofighi is one of the 1,500 European candidates still in the running to become an astronaut within the European Space Agency (ESA). 23,000 people initially applied. “It’s really unexpected for me to be among the 6% of the candidates who were selected! », Rejoices the Toulousain, who has been working since 2006. Interview.
“Becoming an astronaut is a childhood dream! “
News: Can you explain to us what prompted you to apply to become an astronaut?
Peïmann Tofighi: “It’s a childhood dream story! The opportunities to join the astronaut corps are pretty slim. I have an aeronautical background that always tends towards the sky, I always look a little that way. works in the flight operations department, at Airbus, which is a department of engineers and pilots, which mainly deals with the establishment of flight procedures for the various models of Airbus aircraft. At the beginning of last year, the space agency launched a new wave of recruitments and that I applied for the profiles they were looking for, I did not hesitate to launch my application, without really knowing where it was going to lead “.
How did the application go?
TP: “It’s an online application, with a file to be created. The space agency has opened applications to many people: there are no age limits and there is an avalanche of applications: there are had 23,000 in Europe, including about 7,000 French. A scientific profile was needed, but a doctor or a geologist could even apply “.
To be in the 1500s? “It’s really unexpected! “
How do you explain this avalanche of candidates in France? Do you see a Thomas Pesquet effect there?
TP: “Thomas has media coverage, for sure that triggered vocations in some people. And then he did things well! It has a lot of people!”
Comment have you learned that you want to take a first step?
TP: “I received an email from ESA which informed me that my file was selected for the next tests. They sent me this email two and a half weeks before the tests, in order to limit the preparations. It’s really unexpected for me to be still in the running, in the 6% of the candidates that they kept! “
At Airbus, “my hierarchy supported me 200%”
Comment reacted your employer, Airbus?
TP: “I had direct support from my entire hierarchy at Airbus and from all my colleagues. This candidacy was something personal chosen that I had not shared too much, outside of a very intimate circle. got the email telling me that I was being held in the 1,500, I went to talk to my hierarchy to tell them that I wanted to prepare for events My hierarchy supported me 200%. “
And precisely, commenting is preparing?
TP: “Each candidate received training software with several categories to work on: memory, English, math or physics, concentration, spatial orientation … There are about ten categories to As soon as I understood that my hierarchy was supporting me, I was withdrawn. I stayed at home to work, to prepare myself. I put a very high priority on this compared to the rest of my daily life. I did an intensive program for the two weeks “.
“4 candidates appointed in October 2022”
What are the stages?
TP: “I’m going to take part in a test day in Hamburg with a series of psychotechnical, logic and memory exercises. The idea is to put the brain like a gas meter and see what the scores are. at the end of the day! These tests have already started for a little while, so I must be in the last to pass this wave of tests (he passed these tests during the week but the interview was carried out before, editor’s note) I will know in January or if I am selected. If ever this is the case, then there will be other tests which will take place in Cologne, focused more on the ability to work in a team, but also medical tests and end interviews. In the end, in October 2022, there will be 4 nominees “.
Do you know if other people from Airbus have applied?
TP: “In my entourage, I know several people who applied. There is only one who had a positive feedback. Now, Toulouse being the European capital of aeronautics and space, I am sure that it There are a lot of people in Toulouse, and therefore at Airbus, who applied and who were selected in the 1,500. But in my immediate circle, I only have one person who had positive feedback! “
“I hope to go a little longer”
What is your state of mind now?
TP: “There is a certain level of stress, but it’s good stress! It’s already unexpected, what happens to me! I prepared myself as well as possible. Whatever the outcome, the adventure is still quite beautiful. If it works, it’s a jackpot! But if it doesn’t, it’s because I didn’t have the profile to go through with it! There won’t be any regrets. It’s also great for the Toulouse region to share this kind of adventure! When you love what you do, dreams are there and you never know what can happen. Mathematically speaking, you can see that the probabilities are very very low! I I’m already very honored to have the opportunity to be in the 1,500 in Europe. I hope to go a little further, we’ll see! “
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