Alexander Gerst Horizons – a Journey of Discovery for Science and Society Horizons – Devising Solutions for the Challenges of the Future
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Alexander Gerst horizons – a journey of discovery for science and society horizons – devising solutions for the challenges of the future Alexander Gerst’s launch to the International Space Station (ISS) on Key facts 6 June 2018 for his mission ‘horizons – Knowledge for Tomorrow’ will mark the start of his second mission to work on the largest in- Mission: horizons – Knowledge for Tomorrow ternational technology project in the history of humankind. In this Number of German experiments: approximately 50 scientific laboratory, the major spacefaring nations are joining forces Astronaut: Alexander Gerst (born 3 May 1976 in Künzelsau) to develop solutions for the global challenges of our society: ‘Health, Environment and Climate Change’, as well as ‘Digitalisa- Launch to ISS: 6 June 2018 ‘Reaching new horizons and conquering them from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan tion, Industry 4.0, Energy Supply and Mobility of Tomorrow’. Ger- is what drives us humans. The ISS gives us the many is, amongst the European member states, the most important opportunity to leave our ‘spaceship Earth’. Mission duration: expected to be 187 days partner for the other nations involved in the ISS – the United States, The Space Station is not just a one-of-a-kind Docking: 8 June 2018 Russia, Japan and Canada. All German contributions to the Space laboratory, but also the first spacecraft that Station are coordinated and managed by the German Aerospace shows us how to live together in a multicul- Hatch opening: 8 June 2018 tural community beyond our planet Earth. For Center (DLR) Space Administration in Bonn on behalf of the German me, horizons is also the perfect continuation federal government, in coordination with the international ISS part- of my Blue Dot mission, for which the focus Andrew Jay Feustel, Commander ners. In addition to science, the Space Station also provides oppor- was on our blue planet. With horizons, I am Crew Expedition 56 tunities for commercialisation. Germany’s participation in the ISS has looking forward to broadening my horizons Oleg Germanovich Artemyev a direct effect on its economy. A cost-benefit analysis by the ac- even further.’ Richard R. Arnold counting firm Price Waterhouse Coopers confirms: every euro in- Alexander Gerst, vested provides a return of one euro. In addition, the ISS is a driver first German commander of the ISS Alexander Gerst Commander of innovation for new branches of industry and technologies, such Serena Maria Auñón-Chancellor as laser communications, robotics and sensor technology. For Ger- many as an exporting nation and a hub of high technology and Sergei Prokopiev science, research on the ISS represents an investment in the future, Alexey Ovchinin and, at the same time, is a source of inspiration for the next genera- tions in science and industry. German ESA astronaut Alexander Nikolai Tikhonov Gerst’s horizons mission strengthens Germany’s position as a hub of Tyler N. Hague Crew Expedition 57 science and innovation, and makes the Federal Republic one of the most intensive users and beneficiaries of the scientific equipment on Return to Earth: scheduled for 10 December 2018 board the International Space Station, turning ‘science fiction’ into ‘science facts’. DLR.de/en/horizons 2 5 Ready for the mission: the crew of Expedition 56/57 with Serena Maria Auñón-Chancellor, Sergei Prokopyev and Alexander Gerst (from left to right) posing in their Sokol spacesuits during a visit to the Russian Star City. Volker Schmid/DLR Volker horizons – first German commander for humankind's outpost in space Key facts Mission: horizons – Knowledge for Tomorrow Number of German experiments: approximately 50 Since its inception, the International Space Station has been a symbol Astronaut: Alexander Gerst (born 3 May 1976 in Künzelsau) of international understanding and peaceful coexistence. Six astro- nauts from different nations live and work together on humanity’s Launch to ISS: 6 June 2018 ‘Reaching new horizons and conquering them from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan outpost in space approximately 400 kilometres above Earth, united is what drives us humans. The ISS gives us the by a major goal – to improve life on our planet. From early June opportunity to leave our ‘spaceship Earth’. Mission duration: expected to be 187 days 2018, Alexander Gerst will be one of these six astronauts. The Ger- The Space Station is not just a one-of-a-kind Docking: 8 June 2018 man ESA astronaut will remain on the ISS for 187 days, and during laboratory, but also the first spacecraft that the second half of his mission, he will lead this international space shows us how to live together in a multicul- Hatch opening: 8 June 2018 tural community beyond our planet Earth. For community as commander – similar to the captain of a ship. In this me, horizons is also the perfect continuation role, for the first time taken up by a German, he will be responsible of my Blue Dot mission, for which the focus Andrew Jay Feustel, Commander for the safety of the crew, help to resolve conflicts, and work inten- was on our blue planet. With horizons, I am Crew Expedition 56 sively with the flight director on the ground. In the event of an emer- looking forward to broadening my horizons Oleg Germanovich Artemyev gency, he will decide on the rescue measures to be taken – up to and even further.’ Richard R. Arnold including aborting the mission and returning to Earth prematurely. In Alexander Gerst, order to successfully master this high responsibility job, he has under- first German commander of the ISS Alexander Gerst Commander gone intense training at the Yuri Gagarin Training Centre near Mos- Serena Maria Auñón-Chancellor cow and in the US space agency NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. But during his mission, Gerst will be more than a com- Sergei Prokopiev mander – he will also be a researcher, craftsman, ‘port master’ and Alexey Ovchinin teacher. Before he departs to the Space Station, his tasks will be de- fined and he will undergo the respective training; this will prepare Nikolai Tikhonov him for knowing what to do in every experiment, how to check and, Tyler N. Hague Crew Expedition 57 if necessary, change water circuits and valves, and how to dock cargo spacecraft. In addition, he has learned to provide inspiration to chil- Return to Earth: scheduled for 10 December 2018 dren and young people about space. DLR.de/en/horizons 3 4 5 Payload 58,464 orbits of Earth in 10 years 9000 1 Earth observation Columbus Education 26 10,300 kg kg 19,300 kg 31 Biology A B C 151 14 Human physiology experiments Technology 41 according to demonstration discipline 20 Physics 18 The Columbus laboratory – Materials research the heart of European space research Other The Columbus laboratory was launched to space on 7 February 370 75 820 2008 and has been the scientific heart of European research on 82 the International Space Station for more than 10 years. In micro- 84 87 gravity, researchers can gain unique insights to find solutions to 123 the global challenges of our society: ‘Health, Environment and 2913 Climate Change’, ‘Digitalisation, Industry 4.0, Energy and Mobility 128 scientists involved of Tomorrow’. DLR has overseen the development and production 131 457 of the ISS module on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA), 155 164 237 is actively involved with experiments at the research level and 6.9 m length manages operations from the Columbus Control Centre in Ober- pfaffenhofen. The final assembly of the European module was carried out at Airbus in Bremen. 4.5 m diameter The diagrams shown here refer to the period from February 2008 to February 2018. 3 DLR.de/en/columbus 75 m 800 terabytes total of scientific data, transmitted using 3 the Data Management System 25 m (equivalent to a 30-metre-high tower of DVDs ) payload 6 11 Flumias MYOTONES TRANSPARENT Flumias Gene Control Prime Flumias Cold Atoms Lab MYOTONES Immuno-2 MYOTONES PK-4Flumias TRANSPARENTGene Control Prime TRANSPARENT CIMON Flumias Gene Control Prime CompGranMYOTONES ColdImmuno-2 Atoms Lab Cold Atoms Lab MagVector/MFX-2 MYOTONES Immuno-2 TRANSPARENT Gene Control Prime CIMONBildung PK-4 PK-4 ICARUS FlumiasGene Control Prime ICARUS: Zvezda CIMONFlumias Soft Matter Dynamics/CompGran: Tiny ICARUS transmitters attached to wildlife collect FLUMIAS: Flumias To better process bulk goods such as sand or grain, the behaviour of data on the migration behaviour of animals such as The FLUMIAS 3D fluorescence microscope will make it possible – for the first time – to Cold Atoms Lab Immuno-2 such moving granular media (CompGran) is examined under micro- birds, bats or flying foxes, and send it to the ISS. observe processes in living cells under microgravity conditions in real time and outline CallMagVector/MFX-2 horizons – CompGran gravity conditions in the Fluid Science Laboratory (FSL) as part of the The antenna is mounted on the outside of the their changes. TRANSPARENT CompGran ‘Soft Matter Dynamics’ experiment. Russian Zvezda module and the computer is SUPVIS-Justin DLR.de/en/horizons/flumias Where will the highlights from housed inside. MYOTONESImmuno-2 DLR.de/en/horizons/compgran MagVector/MFX-2MYOTONES Immuno-2: DLR.de/en/horizons/icarus German industry and research take place? MYOTONES Destiny Immuno-2 examines the weakening of the immune system caused by stress in astro- CIMON PK-4 nauts and people on Earth in order to develop effective countermeasures. ExperimenteICARUS Kibo Bildung Bildung Columbus CIMON: Cold Atoms Lab Photobioreaktor DLR.de/en/horizons/immuno2 CIMON is a type of ‘flying brain’ – an autonomously acting astronaut assistant. Equipped TRANSPARENT GeneTRANSPARENTCIMON Control Prime with Artificial Intelligence (AI), this globally unique technology demonstration supports ICARUSGene Control Prime CO2 O2 CO O the work of the astronauts on the ISS.