Soon-to-be German Chancellor Friedrich Merz wants to send an astronaut to the moon – but don’t bet on it happening anytime soon.
Wrapped in a coalition deal closed on Wednesday between Merz’s Christian Democrats and the Social Democrats is a pledge to secure a seat on a future mission to the lunar surface, along with promises for Berlin to boost its funding to the European Space Agency (ESA) and back plans for a floating rocket launch pad in the North Sea.
“We are striving for a German astronaut to fly to the moon as part of an international mission,” the governing pact reads, adding that such initiatives “inspire the next generation.”
But with just a four-year term to make it happen, that might prove too giant a leap.
As it stands, Europe has no crewed lunar landing programme in the works. Nor does the ESA have a deal with NASA to ensure there’s a European onboard its Artemis moon missions scheduled for the next few years.
The US instead picked Japan last year as the first international partner to get a ridealong under the Artemis program.
Ready to go
Should Merz somehow manage to secure a last minute seat with NASA on a future Artemis flight, there are a host of candidates up for the trips.
Two Germans – Alexander Gerst and Matthias Maurer – are already experienced astronauts with multiple trips to the International Space Station under their belts.
They’ve also helped develop the LUNA training facility that offers prospective space explorers a chance to train for missions right next to Europe’s existing astronaut centre just outside Cologne.
Both Germans are keen to be the first European on the celestial rock, but they would face competition from France’s Thomas Pesquet, who has the backing of French President Emmanuel Macron, and Italy’s Samantha Cristoforetti.
Germany also has two reserve astronaut candidates: Amelie Schoenenwald and Nicola Winter. However, it’s unlikely they will be called up.
As part of a general upgrade for space, the next German government is setting up a Ministry for Research, Technology and Space which will be controlled by the conservatives.
Previously, German space policy was split between the economy and transport ministries, with Berlin often only represented at international summits by a parliamentary coordinator rather than a cabinet member.
Germany is already Europe’s largest space spender and hosts the next meeting of ESA member countries in Bremen in November.
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