Do astronauts have to be supermen? Maybe not necessarily. So it is a good thing that Alexander Gerst gave his dream a chance by advancing to Esa.
Cologne / Paris (dpa) – German astronaut Alexander Gerst, 44, expected his application to be rejected by the European Space Agency (ESA) in 2008.
“I thought that the astronauts should be supermen – it was clear to me that I was only human,” said Gerst of Deutsche Presse-Agentur. He also knows the statistics. Thousands of people apply, but only four to six people are selected. It would be arrogant to think, “Of course I can.” It is about giving your dream a fair chance. “
A geophysicist was transferred from Kunzelsau (Baden-Württemberg) to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2014 and 2018.
For the first time in more than a decade, Esa is looking for new space travelers as of the end of March. The organization is also looking for astronauts with some degree of physical disability. “We need a good representation of society in the form of astronauts,” Gerst said. “It’s not about providing a service to people with disabilities. But we see diversity as an opportunity.”
Access all content on the freiepresse.de website and e-paper. (Ends automatically)
Currently
0 euros
Instead of 20.99 euros
“Alcohol buff. Troublemaker. Introvert. Student. Social media lover. Web ninja. Bacon fan. Reader.”