Matthias Mauer

He applied for the job of astronaut in 2009 but was not chosen. Nevertheless, Matthias Maurer went to work in space. He prepared the space missions of the future and worked at the flight control of the European space laboratory Columbus.

In 2015, Matthias joined the European astronaut corps after all, and in 2021 he flew to space. He was launched on SpaceX's Dragon capsule along with three NASA astronauts. His mission to the space station ISS lasted six months and was called ‘Cosmic Kiss’.

On board, he participated in over 100 scientific experiments. Matthias lived and worked 177 days in space. He made one spacewalk of almost seven hours. He called that experience ‘otherworldly.

Did you know this about Matthias?

• Before becoming an astronaut, he trained as an engineer in materials science. To pay for his studies, he worked as an ambulance driver.

• His hobbies include travelling, photography, reading and learning languages. He also enjoys sports, especially cycling and hiking.

• Before going to space, Matthias worked on new moon missions. He also participated in astronaut training in caves (ESA CAVES) and underwater (NASA NEEMO).

• In August 2017, Matthias and Samantha Cristoforetti did survival training together with seven Chinese taikonauts. It was China's first-ever collaboration with astronauts from the rest of the world.

• The name of his mission - Cosmic Kiss - represents the connection between Earth and space, via the International Space Station ISS.

• When Matthias saw the moon from the ISS, he started dreaming of his own moon trip. But whether that will ever happen...