How a German volcanologist became the first German to command the ISS
In short: Before venturing into the cosmos, Alexander Gerst was a geophysicist studying volcanoes on Earth. Now, the German ESA astronaut has transitioned from studying planetary heat to commanding the International Space Station, conducting hundreds of experiments across physics, biology, and human physiology during his historic missions in orbit.
Alexander Gerst’s journey to the stars began with a rigorous selection process in 2008, where he emerged from a pool of 8,413 applicants. A geophysicist by training, Gerst earned his doctorate in volcanology from the University of Hamburg in 2010. His background in earth sciences, which included research expeditions on every continent, provided a unique foundation for his work in space, where he has investigated complex fields such as radiation research and human physiology. He completed his fundamental astronaut training in November 2010. This preparation took place at the European Astronaut Center located in Cologne.
His first major foray into orbit was the 'Blue Dot' mission, a name inspired by Carl Sagan’s description of Earth as a 'Pale Blue Dot' following Voyager 1's first photograph of the outer solar system. Acting as a flight engineer for Expeditions 40 and 41, Gerst completed this mission between 28 May and 10 November 2014. He made history as the second European and the first German to lead the International Space Station.
Gerst's orbital career is defined by high-stakes technical responsibilities and extensive scientific inquiry. He has been responsible for docking critical supply capsules, including the European ATV-5, the American Dragon, and the Cygnus. Beyond his technical duties, his missions have seen him performing extravehicular activities, such as his 7 October 2014 spacewalk with NASA's Reid Wiseman. His second mission, 'Horizons,' began in June 2018, further extending his cumulative time in space to approximately one year. During his initial mission, he spent a total of 166 days in orbit. His subsequent flight in 2018 added another 197 days to his time in space.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Alexander Gerst: Mission to the ISS
- Also: Alexander Gerst
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