The German government fully anticipates the participation of a German astronaut in upcoming U.S. moon missions. However, Research Minister Dorothee Bär cautioned against overly high expectations regarding the inaugural flight. While stating with certainty that the first European person en route to the Moon will originate from Germany, Bär noted that a guarantee of walking on the Moon’s surface is not yet available. She clarified that the overall plans have been adjusted in timing following recent changes by NASA, stating, “Realistically, we can be involved starting with the Artemis-5 mission”.
According to the minister, Germany successfully secured astronaut slots through its strong standing within the European Space Agency (ESA) and the reliance of American agencies on European technology. Specifically, the European Service Module constructed in Bremen is crucial, as it “ensures that the astronauts aboard can breathe”. Bär emphasized that NASA requires Europe. Despite this, she admitted that the process of nominating a German astronaut was highly competitive, calling it a period of “tough fights” reflecting the political nature of the process, even with neighboring countries vying for positions.
