German astronauts Alexander Gerst and Matthias Maurer regret not joining the Artemis 2 mission, which will send humans around the Moon for the first time in over 50 years. Both expressed their longing for a Moon flight in Cape Canaveral. ESA chief Josef Aschbacher highlighted Germany's priority for future ESA Moon missions.
In Cape Canaveral, Florida, German astronauts Alexander Gerst (49) and Matthias Maurer (56) told the Deutsche Presse-Agentur about their wishes for the Artemis 2 mission. Maurer joked: «I briefly thought: There's still space in the toilet, could I somehow fit in?» He has fulfilled his dreams of becoming an astronaut and doing a spacewalk, but a Moon flight remains pending.
Gerst exchanged messages with US astronaut Reid Wiseman, wishing him luck and a safe return. «My heart tells me I'd like to be there now,» Gerst said, though he knows the crew can handle the mission without him.
The Artemis 2 crew includes Americans Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Reid Wiseman, along with Canadian Jeremy Hansen. They are set to fly around the Moon.
The European Space Agency Esa is involved in the Artemis program. Esa Director Josef Aschbacher stated Germany would be first in line for Esa astronauts on Moon missions. However, NASA chief Jared Isaacman has overhauled the program and halted plans for the Gateway space station, in which Esa participated.
Aschbacher announced additional meetings and talks with Isaacman to develop new plans quickly. Discussions will cover when and where Esa astronauts might fly, possibly even to the Moon's surface.
