Astronauts call for European sovereignty in space exploration

Astronauts Matthias Maurer and Alexander Gerst are calling for increased European sovereignty and independence in space exploration. During a visit to the LUNA moon simulation facility in Cologne, Germany, Maurer emphasized that while Europe should seek partnerships for lunar missions, it must become more independent regarding the International Space Station (ISS) and its successors to avoid reliance on partners that may become unreliable.

Maurer expressed a desire for Europe to possess its own capsule for European astronauts. Alexander Gerst compared the upcoming exploration of the moon to the discovery of Antarctica a century ago, describing the moon as the ‘eighth continent’ of our time. He noted that the focus is shifting toward scientific research and the establishment of lunar research stations, similar to the Neumayer Station in Antarctica.

North Rhine-Westphalia Minister-President Hendrik Wüst highlighted the importance of aerospace strength for geostrategic and security reasons, noting that the region aims to contribute significantly to lunar exploration through its specialized training modules.