A German astronaut is scheduled to fly to the moon in a few years as part of the US space agency Nasa’s “Artemis” program. This was announced by the head of the European Space Agency Esa, Josef Aschbacher, on the sidelines of the Esa Ministerial Council Conference in Bremen. “I have decided that the first Europeans to fly on a lunar mission will be ESA astronauts of German, French and Italian nationality.” First it was Germany’s turn. Aschbacher did not say who exactly was allowed to go to the moon. The German ESA astronauts Alexander Gerst (49) and Matthias Maurer (55) have both emphasized several times how much they would like to fly to the moon. However, it will still take years for the planned mission to take place – if it even takes place.
The USA wants to bring astronauts to the moon again with the “Artemis” program. In the first half of 2026, four US astronauts are scheduled to orbit the moon on the ten-day “Artemis 2” mission. In 2027, “Artemis 3” will see astronauts land on the moon again after more than half a century. “Artemis 4” is currently scheduled for 2028, but experts expect postponements – a German could only be involved from this mission onwards.
However, US President Donald Trump, who once launched the expensive program himself, could overturn it beforehand. Because now Trump is looking towards Mars. It is rumored that he could destroy the “SLS” rocket developed specifically for “Artemis”. It is intended to bring central elements of the planned “Gateway” lunar station and the crews near the moon.
Three moon tickets for Europe
The European space agency Esa is involved in the “Artemis” program. With the European service module manufactured in the Airbus factory in Bremen, it supplies an important component of the “Orion” spacecraft, which is intended to take the astronauts into lunar orbit. The space agencies also want to build the moon station together. “Gateway” is intended to orbit the moon, similar to how the ISS orbits the Earth.
It has long been agreed that three ESA astronauts will fly on “Artemis” flights to the moon – initially to “Gateway”, and one astronaut later to the moon. Specifically, one European will each take part in the “Artemis 4” and “Artemis 5” missions. Another seat has not yet been allocated for a specific flight. Esa currently has six active astronauts and two project astronauts with space experience. Five more career astronauts were introduced in 2022.
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In addition to Germany, France and Italy can now also look forward to it. The two spacefaring nations also receive a ticket to the moon for one of their ESA astronauts. Germany, France and Italy are the largest contributors to ESA, which is why it is not entirely surprising that these countries should have a say in the moon flights. Aschbacher also mentioned the countries’ contributions to the “Artemis” program.
Will the “Artemis” program collapse?
However, Trump’s close advisor at times, the tech billionaire Elon Musk, is urging him to go to Mars instead. For him, the moon is just a “distraction.” Last year he described the structure of the “Artemis” program as “extremely inefficient.” It is a job-maximizing program and not one for maximum results, criticized the head of the space company SpaceX. “Something completely new is required,” he wrote on X.
NASA, on the other hand, emphasizes how important the lunar program is as a step to Mars. “Artemis” is also called “From the Moon to Mars,” explained Sean Fuller, who works at NASA as International Partner Manager for the “Gateway” project. A direct mission to Mars would be risky. This risk must be reduced and that is exactly what should happen with flights to the moon, with which one can learn a lot about the conditions in space.
“Very big dream”
The last German astronaut to date on the ISS space station, Maurer, has clear ambitions for the moon. “I think every astronaut would like to fly to the moon. That’s a really big dream, including my dream,” the 55-year-old from Saarland once told the German Press Agency.
Gerst, who was born in Baden-Württemberg, would also love a trip to the moon. “You can ask any astronaut: the moon is of course a fascinating destination,” the astronaut once said. Gerst is currently working at the European Astronaut Center in Cologne.
