From studying volcanoes to orbiting the Earth

Space · Published 8 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Trace the journey of German volcanologist Alexander Gerst as he transitions from Earth's geological wonders to the International Space Station.

This video documents the career of Alexander Gerost, a member of the European Space Agency's Astronaut Corps since 2009. It provides a look into his rigorous international training programme and his preparation for his long-duration mission to the International Space Station, which launched on 28 May 2014.

The footage includes interviews with Gerst in both English and German, highlighting his role as the second astronaut from ESA's new generation to reach orbit.

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