50,000 Want European Space Jobs

Mar 23 2008

AROUND 50,000 would-be astronauts are expected to apply for just eight jobs in the European space programme - and a chance of a moon landing.

At least 25,000 Brits are expected to apply - though the UK does not support manned space flights.

New recruits are needed as the current crop of astronauts will be too old when the European outfit sends NASA's space shuttle replacement Orion back to the moon by 2020.

The gruelling year-long selection process includes interviews, medicals, fitness and psychological tests.