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Alexander Gerst

PhD geophysicist who studied in Karlsruhe, New Zealand and Hamburg; Alexander Gerst is a German astronaut who was part of the International Space Station crew from May to November 2014.

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All Content on this topic

Videostill | Projekt Zukunft | Gerst

Alexander Gerst on the fascination of space

Astronaut Alexander Gerst explains why space exploration is so important.
ScienceSeptember 30, 202206:36 min
USA Florida Artemis 1: NASA-Mondrakete bereit für Erstflug

Tomorrow Today - The Science Show

Lunar research / Superconductive materials / Fish-friendly hydropower?
ScienceSeptember 30, 202226:06 min
German astronaut Alexander Gerst

German astronaut receives Great Cross of Merit

Also receiving plaudits were activists who sought political freedom in the former East Germany.
PoliticsOctober 2, 2019
Astronaut Alexander Gerst (DW/F. Schmid)

Alexander Gerst is happy to feel cold rain on his face

Back on terra firma after half a year in space, Astro Alex is enjoying "what a special and important place Earth is."
ScienceDecember 22, 2018
Alexander Gerst on top of Soyuz capsule

Alexander Gerst returns to Earth

Alexander Gerst sent some thoughts about the state of the world before he left the station above the planet.
ScienceDecember 20, 2018
Alexander Gerst on the ISS, seen on a video screen

Houston, we have a problem! We can't hear Gerst

“Astro Alex” appeared on the screen, smiled at us from the space and was gone. The call lasted five minutes.
ScienceDecember 12, 2018
German Astronaut Alexander Gerst

What exactly do space station commanders do?

As commander of the International Space Station in 2018 Alexander Gerst has a host of new responsibilities.
ScienceOctober 3, 2018
Astronaut Alexander Gerst auf der ISS

German astronaut Gerst shocked by parched Europe

Alexander Gerst sent back images of Germany parched and brown due to the heatwave.
TechnologyAugust 8, 2018
Astronaut Alexander Gerst conducting an Experiment

Labor rights in space: Astronaut on a break

Think astronauts are always on duty? Even they get time off in space, says the German Aerospace Center's Volker Schmid.
ScienceJuly 3, 2018
ESA Astronaut Alexander Gerst

Astro-Alex gives first space press conference

Alexander Gerst has said in a live-call event from the International Space Station that returning there proved easy.
ScienceJune 12, 2018
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'Like riding a bicycle'

German Astronaut Alexander Gerst took time off from his duties on the ISS to speak to reporters.
June 12, 201802:14 min
DLR - Astronaut Gerst erreicht Raumstation ISS

Astro-Alex's first inflight call from space

German astronaut Alexander Gerst joins an inflight press call from his Horizons space mission Tuesday. Watch it live.
ScienceJune 12, 2018
German ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst tests his spacesuit

Go for launch

You may have heard that there's a certain 'European of German descent' floating above your head– but how'd he get there?
ScienceJune 11, 201829:59 min
Deutschland Astronautenzentrum der ESA in Köln - Alexander Gerst

Astro-Alex Takes Off

We talk to Alexander Gerst, the first German commander on the ISS
ScienceJune 11, 201803:13 min
Kasachstan Start zur ISS

Tomorrow Today - The Science Magazine

We head off into space with astronaut Alexander Gerst, the first German commander on the ISS
ScienceJune 11, 201826:01 min
Sojus Raumschiff angedockt an die ISS

Astro-Alex reaches the ISS

Today, Alexander Gerst arrives at the ISS. The docking maneuver will take almost three hours.
ScienceJune 8, 2018
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New crew heads to ISS

Alexander Gerst will soon take command of the International Space Station; the first German to do so. ESA advisor Mark McCaughrean tells us what is in store for him during the six month mission on the ISS. 
June 6, 201807:10 min
Kasachstan Start Sojus Rakete zur ISS

Astro-Alex heads into space — live updates

German astronaut Alexander Gerst is leaving for his second mission in space. We have all the updates you need!
ScienceJune 6, 2018
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A visit to Baikonur

DW's Juri Rescheto has been following preparations for the space mission "Horizons" up close.
June 5, 201802:33 min
Deutschland Alexander Gerst auf der ISS

An astronaut's view

German astronaut Alexander Gerst was able to take many stunning images of the Earth's surface.
ScienceJune 5, 201810 images
Blick von der ISS bei Nacht

Astro-Alex to share his experience in space

Alexander Gerst says that to him, reaching out to young students and kids is the most important part of his mission.
ScienceJune 5, 2018
Alexander Gerst works with Electromagnetic Levitation

Put your lights on

We’re going to take a look at the EU’s data protection laws. We’re gearing up for Alexander Gerst's launch to the ISS.
ScienceJune 5, 201830:00 min
German astronaut Alexander Gerst

Countdown to liftoff

German astronaut Alexander Gerst and colleagues will fly to the ISS on Wednesday to embark on the "Horizons" mission.
ScienceJune 3, 2018
Archivbild -Kasachstan Baikonur: Sojus-Rakete

Baikonur - from Soviet space port to an international astronaut hub

The Space port in Kazakhstan was once home to the Sputnik satellites. Today, all astronauts take off from here.
ScienceJune 1, 201811 images
Selfies Alexander Gerst

Top 5 experiments on the Horizons Mission

Orbiting Earth on the International Space Station is not all fun and games. Astronauts do space science for Earth.
ScienceMay 28, 2018
Astronaut Alexander Gerst

"Horizons" on the horizon

We’re going to take a look ahead to Alexander Gerst’s new space mission. It will bring him back to the ISS in June.
ScienceApril 24, 201830:00 min
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Alexander Gerst on the ISS

Gerst, the first German commander of the ISS, talks to DW ahead of his second mission
April 17, 201802:45 min
Roboterassistent

Robot in space

CIMON the robot can see, hear, speak and fly. And he will be part of the crew on board the ISS this summer.
ScienceApril 13, 201804:51 min
Specially designed space food for astronaut Alexander Gerst's next misson on the International Space Station

Things you have to think about when eating in zero gravity

Can you eat rice in space? Join us as we try the space food dishes unveiled for the upcoming mission to the ISS.
ScienceMarch 27, 201829:59 min
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World Stories - One year on: How is Trump doing?

Has Donald Trump delivered on promises to voters? Our Washington Bureau Chief visited Ohio to find out.
February 3, 201812:03 min
Illustration of BepiColombo

2018: Highlights in Space

There will be three bright planets, two total lunar eclipses, a new powerful rocket and a space mission to Mercury.
ScienceDecember 29, 2017
Thomas Reiter, Astronaut

'I hope man will put his feet on the Moon again'

We talk life in space and clear up some questions about the cosmos with former astronaut Thomas Reiter.
ScienceMay 31, 201705:48 min
Johann-Dietrich Wörner, European Space Agency's Director General

'Astronauts can't be replaced by robots'

Jan Wörner, the ESA Director General, told us what the criteria for being commander of a space mission are.
ScienceMay 31, 201703:26 min
Astronaut Alexander Gerst

'There are many horizons that need to be discovered'

Germany’s first ISS Commander, Alexander Gerst, revealing the name and logo of his next mission to the ISS in 2018.
ScienceMay 31, 201705:53 min
Astronaut Alexander Gerst and logo of his next mission to the ISS

Meet the commander, German astronaut Alexander Gerst

Germany’s first International Space Station Commander revealed the name and logo of his next mission to the ISS in 2018.
ScienceMay 30, 201729:58 min
Deutschland | Astronaut Alexander Gerst päsentiert das Logo seiner nächsten ISS-Mission

Astronaut Alex Gerst announces 'Horizons' space mission

The 41-year-old will be the first German commander of the International Space Station's during the 2018 mission.
ScienceMay 29, 2017
15 Jahre Internationale Raumstation ISS

#Astro_Alex to present new mission patch

On Monday Alexander Gerst will present the new mission patch. Gerst will be the first German ISS commander.
ScienceMay 26, 2017
Raumsonde Cassini am Saturn

What's happening in space in 2017

With the grand finale of the Cassini mission to Saturn, 2017 will be a year of mixed emotions for space fans.
ScienceDecember 28, 2016
Braunschweig (Brunswick) Stadthalle Foyer DGLR Congress 2016

Just how blind are men to women in science?

What will it take for men to see women in science as colleagues, rather than creatures from another planet?
September 16, 2016
Airbus A380 bei Flugschau in Paris

Why we can't afford to take science for granted

It's easy to say German innovation is healthy - whether it's in fundamental or applied science. But it's not a given.
September 14, 2016
Alexander Gerst at the ISS Photo: Getty Images/ESA/A. Gerst

Germany's Gerst to take command of ISS

Astronaut Alexander Gerst will become the first German to take command of the International Space Station.
May 18, 2016
German Astronaut Alexander Gerst

Eyes of the world?

What happens to your perspective in space? German astronaut Alexander Gerst can tell you.
ScienceJune 8, 201507:11 min
German President Gauck awards astronaut Gerst the Federal Cross of Merit

Great honor

German astronaut Alexander Gerst has been honored with the Federal Cross of Merit.
January 13, 2015
Astronomie Sternenmeer

2014: Ever further into outer space

2014 in space
December 31, 201410 images
Sojus-Rakete zur Raumstation ISS gestartet (Samantha Cristoforetti)

Italy's first woman in space arrives on board ISS

A Soyuz capsule carrying astronauts from three countries has docked with the International Space Station. Among those arriving on board is Italy's first woman in space.
November 24, 2014
Sojus-Rakete zur Raumstation ISS gestartet (Samantha Cristoforetti)

ISS-bound - Italian female astronaut

Italy's first female astronaut is heading to the International Space Station. The Soyuz capsule carrying Samantha Cristoforetti blasted off from Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome.
November 24, 2014
PK Alexander Gerst

Astronaut Gerst sets his sights on Mars

Freshly landed back on Earth after nearly six months in space, German astronaut Alexander Gerst said he wouldn't mind making a trip to Mars in the future. But Gerst added that humans really should value their own planet.
November 13, 2014
Astronaut Gerst

Return to the Blue Dot

Alexander Gerst back home
November 10, 201410 images
Alexander Gerst Maxim Surayev ISS Landung Kasachstan

Germany's Gerst back on earth

German astronaut Alexander Gerst and his US and Russian colleagues have landed safely in Kazakhstan. The three astronauts had spent 165 days on the International Space Station.
November 10, 2014
ISS

Return to Earth for 3 ISS crew

Three crew members from the International Space Station have returned to Earth. Among the trio who had spent nearly six months on the ISS was the German astronaut Alexander Gerst.
November 10, 2014