Cosmic Kiss – A Love for Space

After Hans Schlegel, Maurer is the second RWTH alumnus with experience in space: he spent around six months on the International Space Station (ISS) from November 2021 to May 2022, making him the 13th German national to travel to space. Maurer pursued his doctorate at the Institute of Materials Science (now the Institute of Surface Technology) at RWTH from 1999 to 2004.

In his interview with “keep in touch,” Maurer talks about his Cosmic Kiss space mission, explains why a Mars expedition is not quite realistic right now, and describes what ties he has with RWTH nowadays.

Matthias Maurer: Cosmic Kiss – What is behind the name of your mission?
People often ask me why we travel to space. We humans are naturally curious and have many questions. We want to know what is 'out there', how the universe, the Earth and the solar system came into being, and how life came to Earth. What is it like to walk on the Moon? I have exactly the same questions and dreams and I have tried to express this in the name of this mission. Cosmic Kiss is a declaration of love for outer space.

Was your curiosity about the world, the universe, and life also what inspired you to become an astronaut?
Curiosity is a part of it, of course, but people are generally curious about many areas of life. My journey started like this: ESA initiated a new astronaut selection round in 2008 and I happened to see this on the news one evening. I knew straight away that this was something I wanted to do, because the astronaut profession combines many of my interests: science, modern technology, international teamwork, and adventures! Working in an international team also reflects my background, as I studied in the UK, France, Spain, and Germany and did internships in South America and South Korea. These were incredibly valuable experiences for me, because they make you see that the 'German solution' is not always the right one. That opens your mind to new perspectives.

Spacewalk training at NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Labratory (NBL) in Houston, Texas, USA.
Photos: ESA/NASA/Stephane Corvaja

After all the studying and hard training to become an astronaut – what was it like to experience the lack of gravity for the first time?
During training, we already had experience with parabolic flights, where we were weightless for about 22 seconds at a time. But up in space, this is your permanent state and something else entirely, and you have to enjoy it slowly. Arriving in space, being weightless, and taking in the view of the Earth ... that is something very special. I said a moment ago that experiences abroad open people's eyes. Yet up in space, that potential is exponentially greater. The Earth is so small to look at. To understand that everything on this Earth is somehow connected is what I wish every one of us could perceive.

On Earth, there is so much war, and, seen from space, this just seems completely absurd and incomprehensible. We can only solve the Earth’s problems by working together. The transition into weightlessness and seeing the Earth from above deeply moved me, and I wish everyone could have that experience. Planet Earth would be in better hands.  

You were just talking about the wars in the world. Do these conflicts on Earth affect the life of an astronaut in space?
We are a small family 'up there'; we stick together, we trained together, and we have to trust each other. The space station can only function if we block out what is happening on Earth in terms of our cooperation. In space, of course, we are also connected to daily events on Earth via the Internet. When the war started in Ukraine, I saw from 'above' that the country was suddenly completely dark at night. The lights had been turned off throughout the nation so that potential targets for an attack were no longer visible. I could also see flashes of light northwest of Kyiv from space.

Return to Earth.
Photos: NASA/ESA/Matthias Maurer/Stephane Corvaja

You recently visited RWTH. What was it like for you to be back in Aachen?
It was great to be back! So much has changed in such a short time. RWTH is buzzing with activity and is very successful. I am very happy about that. Progress and innovation always  keep going in Aachen.

You studied in so many different places. Why did you decide to pursue your doctorate at RWTH back then? And are you still connected to your alma mater today?
RWTH's reputation was a very important factor in my decision to do my doctorate here. But of course, my dissertation topic was also very suitable for the Institute of Materials Science. I regularly keep in touch with my fellow students from back then and, of course, with Professor Kirsten Bobzin, who now heads the Institute.

Let's take a look ahead. What do you think: When will it be realistic for humans to go to Mars?
To answer this question, we would need a good crystal ball. From an engineering perspective, it is relatively clear what is still missing. The trip to Mars takes at least 500 days, meaning the mission would be two to three years in total. With today's technology, we could fly there and fill the rocket with fuel, food, breathing air, etc. for both outbound and return flights. However, this would not leave us with any room for additional equipment, such as for experiments. So we need to develop the technology for the Mars mission first.
We can only get to Mars via the Moon. Right now, the space station Deep Space Gateway is being built. This will orbit the Moon and serves as a sort of stepping stone. From there, any point on the Moon can be reached. At the same time, this station is also testing the technology that would be needed to travel to Mars. If we were to land on the Moon in the mid-2020s, develop and expand the technology on the Moon in the 2030s, then we would have the technology to go to Mars in the 2040s. Of course, this would happen faster with more money for this research – that is Elon Musk's approach, for example. He wants to land on Mars as early as the 2030s.

What is your current work life like? What do you do when you're not in space?
My big dream is to go to the Moon on my next mission. Three flights to the Deep Space Gateway spaceship have already been reserved for Europe. There will certainly be more flights, which will also go directly to the surface of the Moon. But, of course, this all has to be prepared. While I’m waiting, I am responsible for the construction of the LUNA plant in Cologne – a lunar training and technology center. The astronaut center in Cologne is currently running mission-independent training for future astronauts and for flights to the ISS. We currently cannot train astronauts for the Moon there. That is all set to change with LUNA. In 2024, the new facility will go into operation. It is intended to serve as an open platform where astronauts are trained. However, students and researchers, as well as industry are also welcome to test their own research or developments in a highly realistic lunar environment there. The surface of the Moon, for example, is replicated with sand from the Eifel region, which has the same chemical composition and grain size distribution as the lunar sand. This is one of the biggest problems we face on a lunar mission, as the dust is very detrimental to the equipment.

I am also writing a book about my Cosmic Kiss mission, which is due for release at the end of this year. And, of course, I’m keeping myself fit and ready for the next mission.

What makes you a good fit to become an astronaut?

At ESA, the hiring requirements are a degree in engineering, science, or medicine, or being a licensed test pilot. Then, of course, you have to pass the selection round and that's where it gets competitive. There are too few missions and too many people with this dream. Last year, the selection round saw 23,000 people apply. We eventually hired five budding astronauts. The previous selection round was in 2009 – 13 years prior. Someone who was just a little too young this time may be too old the next time around.

I couldn’t, with a clear conscience, tell everyone to “work hard at school and you'll be an astronaut later” – even if that were nice. In my case, I always did what I wanted to do and what I enjoyed doing. Fortunately, this ended up fitting the required profile for an astronaut. You also need a little luck on your side to pass the selection process!

Thank you very much for speaking with us!
It was my pleasure. Please pass on my regards to all the readers and colleagues in Aachen! My education at RWTH was excellent and certainly contributed to my becoming an astronaut. See you soon!

– Authors: Dietrich Hunold, Siba Fitzau