Over 20,000 Filipinos have signed up for AXE Philippines’ search for the first Filipino astronaut who will join 21 others from around the world in a space exploration mission in 2014.

AXE Philippines brand manager Gem Laforteza said the huge number of applicants indicated the Philippines would not be left behind in this once in a lifetime opportunity.

“I think that’s mainly because this is a big first for our country,” Laforteza said.

The search was launched last month by AXE Philippines, a popular male grooming product. It was also launched in the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Russia, Turkey, South Africa, India, Indonesia, China, Japan, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, France, Canada, Brazil, Spain, Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Hungary.

By August this year, 10,000 Filipinos will be chosen. Of the number, two will be selected to undergo the four-day training at the Axe Apollo Global Space Camp in Orlando, Florida.

“After undergoing rigid training at the camp, one Filipino will be handed the mission to go where no Filipino has gone before,” Laforteza said, adding the winner will be announced by the first or second week of December.

He said the spacecraft that would be used in the space exploration is currently being developed by Xcor Aerospace in California.

“Over half a million people from all over the world have joined AXE’s space program, with the Philippines among the top countries to join at No. 5, next to the US, Great Britain, Germany, and France,” said Laforteza.

The program will culminate with an international crew of 22 astronauts, including a Filipino, who will be sent to space by AXE and international space travel agency Space Expedition Corp.