Kicking off its recruitment campaign for the first time in 11 years, the European Space Agency (ESA) is looking actively for the applications for new astronauts from every part of the society, reported CNN.

“Diversity at ESA should not only address the origin, age, background or gender of our astronauts, but also perhaps physical disabilities,” said director of human and robotic exploration, David Parker.

The applications will open from March 31 to May 28. A six-stage selection process will be followed, which will end in October 2022.

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Applicants must be nationals of an ESA member state, should be five feet to six feet three inches tall and speak and read English, as per the ESA website. 

Aspirant should have a university degree, or equivalent, in engineering or medicine, natural sciences, and applicants with at least three years of professional experience in a related field will be given priority.

Moreover, a candidate should be fit and fine in terms of health and will preferably be from  27 to 37 years of age.

Women are strongly encouraged to apply as the agency seeks “to expand gender diversity in our ranks,” according to an official statement from the ESA released on Monday.

“To go farther than we ever have before, we need to look wider than we ever have before,” said ESA director general Jan Wörner.

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“This recruitment process is the first step and I look forward to watching the agency develop across all areas of space exploration and innovation, with our international partners, in the years to come,” he said.

According to the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, approximately 60 years since the first human took off into space, women account for just 11% of the 560 people who have travelled beyond the earth’s atmosphere.

“To make this dream a reality, alongside the astronaut recruitment I am launching the Parastronaut Feasibility Project – an innovation whose time has come,” Park further added.

For paving the way of the moon through sustainable exploration, In October, the ESA collaborated with NASA and came into an agreement.

The two agencies will work together on the Artemis Gateway lunar outpost, which will act as a way station serving astronauts traveling from Earth prior to arriving at the surface of the moon.