After scientific preparation in Grenoble, Clément Huber joined ENSTA Paris where he fully exploited his passion for aeronautics. A few years after graduating, this space enthusiast set out and applied to become an astronaut. He talks to us about his journey and his love for space.
Clément Huber’s journey
Can you go back over your journey?
After the baccalaureate, I did a scientific prep class in Grenoble, then I joined theENSTA Paris. At ENSTA, I got involved in the BDE in my first year, as a business relations officer. I focused on robotics and automation. I didn’t know that you could choose a third language and I took Japanese, which allowed me to do a two-month internship in Japan in my first year.
I then specialized in algorithms and programming in second year. I interned at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, working in a microdrone lab. It was really very interesting. But after this second year, I felt the need for more concreteness and so I opted for a gap year. I worked in image processing at MBDA before going to Parrot for my second gap year internship. Both subjects were fascinating.
In the third year, I was able to do my exchange at Sup’aero, in Toulouse. I chose the signals and systems major and I studied algorithms and computer vision applied to autonomous systems. I also obtained a technological innovation certificate in entrepreneurship to have an entrepreneurial vision. At the end of my studies, I did an internship at Thalès. I worked on a system that allows you to track a target on the ground. After my graduation, I joined Navya, a company that develops autonomous shuttles. I stayed there for four years, on the trajectory planning part.
What was the rest of the adventure for you?
I left Navya in August 2020 because I needed new challenges. I wanted to live a fairly strong human experience. So I joined the Army as a contract officer. In 2020-2021, I trained in Saint-Cyr.
With the ESA selection, I realized that I missed the scientific side and I wanted to have this dual role. So I decided to leave the active army to become a reservist. This matched my application to become an astronaut since the selections opened in March. So I spent six months preparing. I worked as a temporary stretcher bearer at the same time. I wanted to discover the hospital world and make myself useful. It was extremely enriching.
Since October 2021, I have been working at Diabeloop, a company that automates blood sugar regulation in diabetics. I have a job as an R&D engineer again and work in algorithms and programming. I remain a section leader in the Army, in reserve, in parallel.
When did your love for space begin?
It started very early, but it’s a somewhat buried dream. While talking with a friend, he reminded me that, even at 5 years old, I wanted to become either an astronaut or a fighter pilot. I had even taken up gymnastics, because I had been told that I had to be agile.
Over time, I began to become more interested in being a fighter pilot. But, after leaving prep school, I abandoned this idea. I told myself that the chance of doing this job was too low. You can easily get kicked out of training. The advantage of this selection is that I can continue to work on the side. This ESA selection is ultimately a return to basics.
ESA recruitment processes to become an astronaut
How did you react when you saw that ESA was looking for its future astronauts?
When I heard the news, I didn’t hesitate for a single second. It seemed obvious to me to apply. A few people I had only known for a short time had told me about it. I was sweating this desire to become an astronaut! When I applied, it didn’t surprise anyone.
Very quickly, I took things seriously. I reworked my CV from A to Z to make sure I checked all the boxes and filled in any gaps that there might be. My pilot’s license had expired, so I took it again, I also passed my level 1 diving and took Russian lessons.
How are the selections to become an astronaut carried out?
The ESA selections began on March 31, 2021 and end in fall 2022. It’s a marathon! There are 6 steps:
- Submission of applications and selection on file. This phase has just been completed and it is the one that I passed successfully.
- Psychotechnical tests. They aim to test cognitive abilities, multitasking, memory, visual acuity, etc. In this phase, there are around 1,500 candidates, or 7% of the candidates registered in the first sentence.
- The third phase focuses more on situational intelligence and relational skills. The ESA carries out group scenarios.
- The fourth phase consists of a medical examination
- There is then a motivational interview with a jury
- Finally, the last step consists of an interview with the director of the ESA.
In total, ESA wants to recruit 6 astronauts. It could potentially create a corps of reservist astronauts which would include around fifteen people.
The future of Clément Huber
If you join the ESA, what changes for you?
If I am one of the six astronauts selected, my life will change radically. I should move to Cologne and start preparation. The daily life of ESA astronauts consists of several training sessions: general training which consists of training in swimming pools, carrying out missions in caves or survival courses. The other part is more specific to the mission that must be carried out in space.
And if you’re not taken, how do you imagine what’s next for you?
What I like about being an astronaut is the diversity of the missions and I try to have the same life. I needed to take stock and that’s why I took six months off. I found this balance between Diabeloop and my life in Grenoble. I also have a taste for adventure and would like to find something as exciting as an expedition to Antarctica for example.
