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🇩🇪 Germany /Technology

Astronauts call for greater European independence in space

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Astronaut Matthias Maurer said Europe should become more independent in space, including by developing its own capsule for European astronauts.
  • Alexander Gerst described the Moon as the “eighth continent” and said future missions should focus on science rather than planting flags.
  • The LUNA facility in Cologne allows astronauts, researchers and companies to test lunar technologies and simulate living conditions.

Europe should stop relying entirely on international partners in space and build its own capabilities, astronaut Matthias Maurer said during a visit to the LUNA lunar simulation facility in Cologne.

If we are heading toward the Moon, we want to do that together with partners.

· Matthias MaurerThe astronaut described Europe’s preferred approach to lunar missions.

“If we are heading toward the Moon, we want to do that together with partners,” Maurer said. But for the International Space Station or a successor station, he argued, Europe must be independent of partners who may no longer prove as reliable as they once were. Europe currently flies astronauts into space with American and Russian partners, he said, and should have its own capsule for European astronauts.

Astronaut Alexander Gerst framed lunar exploration as a scientific project rather than a contest for national prestige. “The Moon is the eighth continent of our time, and it will be explored like Antarctica was a hundred years ago,” he said. “Not to plant one more flag.” In coming decades, he expects research stations on the Moon similar to Germany’s Neumayer Station in Antarctica, where international scientists work together peacefully.

The Moon is the eighth continent of our time, and it will be explored like Antarctica was a hundred years ago.

· Alexander GerstGerst compared future lunar exploration with the scientific exploration of Antarctica.

North Rhine-Westphalia Minister-President Hendrik Wüst said Europe was already far ahead on the route to the Moon and needed strength in aerospace for strategic and security reasons. He said the state wanted to help ensure that the path to the Moon ran through North Rhine-Westphalia, which has suitable training modules.

Not to plant one more flag.

· Alexander GerstHe stressed that lunar missions should focus on science rather than national symbolism.

The LUNA facility, operated by the German Aerospace Center and the European Space Agency, covers about 700 square meters and includes a lander model, rocks, craters and roughly 900 tonnes of basalt dust designed to resemble lunar soil. Astronauts can also practice daily life in a four-person habitat with sleeping cabins, sanitary facilities, an airlock and a laboratory. A greenhouse called EDEN-LUNA is due to be added next year.

If you look at the route to the Moon, we are already far ahead.

· Hendrik WüstThe North Rhine-Westphalia premier praised Europe’s and the region’s position in lunar preparation.
About this summary

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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