Off to space

Alexander Gerst was among the six people selected last week for training as the European Space Agency's next batch of astronauts. A 33-year-old German geophysicist, Gerst will prepare to travel to space in September.

Deutsche Welle: Congratulations on being selected as one of the European Space Agency's astronauts. What was your first reaction when you got the news?

Alexander Gerst: It was the greatest feeling I could imagine at that time. It was obviously a great dream of mine that I'd had for most of my life that was fulfilled at that moment. It's hard to describe.

You are basically living a dream?

Yes, I was. For me it is a long-standing dream to explore our planet and the space around it. I was always a very curious person. As a child I turned over every stone and looked behind every tree and I liked to explore. For me now, after becoming a scientist, which allows me to do those things down here on Earth, this new job offers me the chance to do the same in space which is the ultimate way for me to do science and exploration.

Thousands of people sent in applications to become one of Europe's astronauts. How difficult was the selection process?

Some of the tests were, obviously, quite tough - even for a successful candidate, they weren't easy at all. I never went out of a test saying, "I've got this one in the bag." I always came out with mixed feelings. I said, "Well, I didn't do so bad, but I also wasn't really good at it." In the end it worked out, but it's hard to tell. Some of the tests felt quite easy and natural and some others were very tough.

What do you think it was that singled you out from the thousands of others during the grueling, year-long process for the role of European astronaut?

I'm actually not completely sure. I think it might be a little of everything. Certainly there was some luck involved. I considered myself lucky that my body was good enough to pass the medical test, which I'm not fully responsible for.

A very important component is fascination - fascination for the space program, fascination for the job. That fascination leads to persistence to follow through with all the tests and all the preparations and to not give up on the way.

Another very important criterion is working in teams. I've shown through experiences I've had in Antarctica that I can perform in a team, and many others have done so as well, and I think that's a very important criterion for the European Space Agency.

You are a geophysicist, four of the other people chosen are pilots and the fifth works with guidance systems. What role do you think your position as a scientist plays?

Every good team has to be a diverse one. The charter of European astronauts says "unity through diversity," and that's the motto of all of Europe in my opinion. Therefore, I think the European Space Agency did well by choosing a diverse team with different backgrounds and experiences - only then can everyone contribute their experience to the bigger team experience.

Are you worried about what the future now holds for you?

I wouldn't call it worried, but it's certainly a challenge. I've got a lot of press attention, but I don't consider myself someone who has done a lot. The European Space Agency puts a huge amount of trust in me and I don't want to disappoint. It's a challenge and I'm aware that I would like to perform as people expect.

Does the prospect of being strapped into a rocket and blasted into space frighten you?

No, not at all. I'm fascinated by that prospect.

I don't think fear is a helpful emotion in that respect. I can't speak as an astronaut, of course, since I haven't flown yet, but as a scientist who has worked on active volcanoes I know that fear makes us irrational, which can sometimes be dangerous. That is not a helpful feeling, but what is very important, at the same time, is to have respect for the risks involved - to minimize them and be aware of them. So respect, yes, but fear, no.

Training for future missions to the International Space Station begins in September, and there is also a chance you could go to the Moon in collaboration with NASA and other space agencies. What will you, personally, be looking forward to?

The Moon program is quite far away, so I can't put myself in any role there because it's certainly not clear who is going to be on that mission. I would personally love to be there. I know that the Moon is full of treasures for us.

I would rather concentrate now on closer things, like my training and, after that, flights to the International Space Station.

There is a lot of science to be done there that is so important for us down here on Earth. In economic and scientific ways there is very important research to be done up there and that is what I would like to concentrate on most.

Interview: Rajiv Sharma (sms)

Editor: Kate Bowen