DO you want to get away, like, far away? Nicholas Patrick is one North-East man to explore space, and you could be next as an agency is on the hunt for new astronauts.

The European Space Agency (ESA) is looking for new astronauts for the first time in 11 years, with the organisation strongly encouraging women to apply.

Locals may remember visiting the Soyuz TMA-19M capsule which transported Tim Peake - the UK’s first European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut – on show at Locomotion at Shildon in 2017 and now it could be your turn to make history.

Successful recruits will work alongside the ESA’s existing astronauts as Europe enters a new era of space exploration, representing not just the country but the North-East.

But you won't be the first from the region to blast off, with Nicholas Patrick becoming the fourth UK astronaut to blast off in 2006 while working for NASA.

The British-American engineer and a former NASA astronaut, who was born in Saltburn, east Cleveland, was tasked with a mission rewire the electrical systems of the International Space Station.

He ventured out on several spacewalks after that, including to help install a new room with a bay window on the ISS.

Applications from those looking to make a giant leap in their career open on March 31 and close on May 28, giving you eight weeks to apply.

But before you can climb into a rocket and blast off there are six-stages in the rigorous selection process, which is expected to be completed in October 2022.

It is not yet clear what roles are up for grabs but more information will follow a conference marking the hunt for new explorers on February 16.

Mr Peake will join fellow astronauts and colleagues in human and robotic exploration as well as the ESA director general Jan Wörner to kickstart the campaign. 

The agency says ‘How do I become an astronaut?’ is question that is asked often, so it put together a handy video. 

Speaking in the video, the 2011 head of HR Frank Dansey said: "It's not surprising that we would get that question because of course, it is tremendously inspiring and in some ways the thing that dreams are made of, but there is another aspect to being an astronaut.

"That's an aspect of tremendously hard training, being extremely knowledgable in a broad range of areas to be adaptable to different problems and issues. 

"Astronauts are quite remarkable generalists who can be assigned to a broad range of activities and have the ability to adapt."

County Durham has long played a role in the UK's space race, sending the likes of satellites and artificial diamonds into orbit, with Sedgefield earmarked to be the UK's space hub by 2023.

The region is already home to The Satellite Applications Centre of Excellence, at NETPark, which is a Catapult-run organisation set up to stimulate the space and satellite sector in the North-East.

ESA director general Jan Woerner, said: “Thanks to a strong mandate from ESA member states at Space19+, our Ministerial Council in 2019, Europe is taking its place at the heart of space exploration.

“To go farther than we ever have before, we need to look wider than we ever have before.

“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.”

David Parker, ESA director of human and robotic exploration, said: “Representing all parts of our society is a concern that we take very seriously.

“Diversity at ESA should not only address the origin, age, background or gender of our astronauts, but also perhaps physical disabilities.

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

It comes after news last week that a European astronaut could be on a mission to the Moon by the end of the decade.

Vacancies will be published here when they are available.