The UK's longstanding opposition to human spaceflight will be no bar to its citizens becoming astronauts, the European Space Agency (Esa) says.

Officials made it clear at the start of a recruitment drive in London that Britons were very welcome to apply.

Although a major Esa member, the UK currently refuses to fund human spaceflight, believing robotics to be a more worthwhile space activity

But the agency said this policy would have no bearing on selection.

Indeed, it was possible to envisage a situation where a UK citizen became an Esa astronaut with no national money behind the programme at all.

"It's possible," said Alan Thirkettle who run's Europe's interests in the International Space Station (ISS).

"Of course, what would be very good would be to have a situation where the UK came into the human spaceflight programme; and there are discussions ongoing. But, yes, it is possible."

The current Esa astronaut corps numbers eight individuals, all from member states who have contributed to the five billion euros it has so far cost to participate in the space station project.

Those UK-born citizens who have flown in space recently - Michael Foale, Piers Sellers and Nicholas Patrick - took out US citizenship to enrol in Nasa's astronaut programme.

Esa's astronaut selection campaign, the first for more than 10 years, will open on Monday 19 May.

An expected 50,000 applicants will be whittled down to four astronauts, who are destined to spend time on the ISS.

Although astronauts can continue flying into their 50s, Esa will only take on new candidates between the ages of 27 and 37. Successful candidates will probably be experienced scientists or test pilots.

Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk

(BBC)

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