German Astronaut to Be First European on Moon Mission

Historic Milestone for European Space Exploration

In a groundbreaking announcement that marks a new era for European space exploration, the European Space Agency (ESA) has confirmed that a German astronaut will become the first European to travel to the Moon as part of NASA's Artemis program. This historic decision was revealed by ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher during a recent space summit in Bremen, Germany, where he allocated three precious Moon mission seats to Germany, France, and Italy - the three largest financial contributors to the European space program.

The Astronaut Candidates

The honor could go to either of Germany's two experienced astronauts: Alexander Gerst (45), a geophysicist who has spent nearly a year in space across two International Space Station missions and served as the first German commander of the ISS, or Matthias Maurer (55), a materials scientist who completed a 177-day mission aboard the ISS in 2021. 'The moon is a massive dream for every astronaut,' Maurer told German media, capturing the excitement shared by space professionals across Europe.

Artemis Program Timeline

The journey to the Moon will follow a carefully planned sequence. NASA's Artemis program successfully completed its first uncrewed test flight in 2022, and the next major milestone - Artemis II - is scheduled for launch by April 2026. This mission will carry three American astronauts and one Canadian on a lunar flyby mission, orbiting the Moon but not landing. The actual lunar landing is planned for Artemis III, currently scheduled for 2028, which would mark humanity's first return to the lunar surface in over 50 years.

Europe's participation in these missions is made possible by ESA's significant technological contributions, particularly the development of the European Service Module that provides power, propulsion, and life support for NASA's Orion spacecraft. As ESA recently confirmed, the third European Service Module was officially handed over to NASA in September 2025 and will power the Orion spacecraft on the Artemis III mission.

Record Budget Boost

The announcement comes alongside a massive financial commitment from European nations. ESA secured a 30% budget increase, bringing its three-year funding to €22.1 billion. Germany leads the contributions with approximately €5.4 billion, followed by France and Italy each committing over €3 billion. 'This represents a paradigm shift that ensures our sovereignty in space and boosts competitiveness in the European economy,' German Research Minister Dorothee Bär stated in comments to Reuters.

The Netherlands also increased its contribution, committing €453 million instead of the initially planned €344 million, reflecting growing recognition of space exploration's strategic importance. Belgium, while contributing over €1 billion, will see its astronaut Raphaël Liégeois train for ISS missions rather than lunar flights.

Global Space Race Intensifies

Director General Aschbacher emphasized the urgency of Europe's increased investment, noting that 'Europe has what to catch up on' in the rapidly evolving space sector. The funding boost comes amid intensifying competition between established space powers and emerging commercial space companies. As reported by Euronews, ESA plans to establish new space centers in Norway and Poland while strengthening partnerships with Canada, Japan, South Korea, and Australia.

The selection of a German astronaut for the first European Moon mission represents not just a personal achievement for the chosen individual, but a symbolic victory for European cooperation in space exploration. As Alexander Gerst noted in recent interviews, the goal is sustainable lunar exploration that could eventually lead to research stations similar to those in Antarctica, opening new frontiers for scientific discovery and international collaboration.