León (EFE).- The astronauts from León Sara García and Pablo Álvarez have received this Monday the title that accredits them as Favorite Sons of their city, where both were born 34 and 35 years ago, respectively, and whose City Council wanted to honor them as institutional recognition and for their contribution to the promotion of the city.
The award ceremony, presided over by the mayor, José Antonio Diez, in the Ciudad de León Auditorium, was attended by representatives of schools, institutes and the University of León (ULe) since it was intended to be a tribute from the whole city to the two young astronauts from León.
On November 23, 2022, the European Space Agency (ESA) made public the names of the members of its new group of astronauts, a selection in which more than 22,500 European applicants participated, and in which Pablo Álvarez from Leon were selected, among the five starters, and Sara García, who is part of the list of 12 substitutes.
Demanding selection process
In his speech, the councilor highlighted that his choice among thousands of candidates after a demanding selection process in which their personal CVs, training and response to the tests carried out were taken into account “has meant that during this period there has been talk of León in all the international media” and “they have valued the training received in their hometown, their talent, work and dedication”.
In addition, he recalled that, together with the title of favorite children, the one known as the Eras de Renueva Red Building and the new building that will be built on the annexed plot will bear his name as the Pablo Álvarez and Sara García Technology-Based Business Complex to remember his international feat.
Leon astronauts
The mayor has also highlighted that the two young people were trained at the University of León, which in his opinion shows that “it is not necessary to leave the city to start working on your dreams.
Sara García thanked the recognition, appreciated that with her election and that of Pablo León it has become the city with the highest density of astronauts, and praised the “exceptional” training she received at the University of León to become the scientific what it aspires to be
“In León is my soul and my heart and this city represents that neuralgic point to which they always want to return, because your home and yours are there,” he said.
For his part, Álvarez has encouraged the hundreds of children and young people who have attended the event to pursue their dreams: “With effort, dedication and perseverance it is possible to reach the stars and any challenge that one considers.”
The tribute that the León City Council has paid them this Monday adds to the recognition that the University of León dedicated to them in December, where Pablo Álvarez graduated from the School of Industrial, Computer and Aerospace Engineering, and Sara García from the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences.
From Leon to Cologne
The new ESA astronaut will begin his training in Cologne (Germany) in April, which will last for two years, and once he has been assigned a mission, he will face another two years of preparation, in this case more specific and focused on the tasks that you are going to perform.
In between, he will have to learn to fly planes, scuba diving, skydiving and survival training in case something goes wrong during the launch and he ends up landing in some inhospitable place, he can last two days until the rescue team arrives.
In the case of Sara García, as a member of the reserve, her training will be different and she will be able to keep her current job at the National Cancer Research Center (CNIO), which she will combine with the tests she will carry out for the ESA.
He will have to pass medical examinations in Cologne and for 20 days he will do different types of missions for ESA, which can range from outreach activities to work at the astronaut center.
At the moment, five missions are guaranteed and taking into account that the first astronaut will fly in 2026 and the European space station will be there until 2030, the five incumbents will enter the different flights. EFE