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Astronauts

Exploring our Solar System is one of humankind's most exciting adventures. ESA selected its first astronauts in 1978 for the 1983 Spacelab mission on NASA's Space Shuttle. Here you'll find more about our current astronauts – the class of 2009.

Matthias Maurer

100 days of Cosmic Kiss science

Saturday 19 February marks 100 days since ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer was launched to the International Space Station for his first mission, Cosmic Kiss. He launched on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft with NASA astronauts Kayla Barron, Raja Chari and Tom Marshburn as a member of Crew-3. But even before he was launched to space, he was subject to scrutiny for science.

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Matthias Maurer

#AskMatthias – Orbit Edition

A main goal of my Cosmic Kiss mission is to share with you lots of fascinating science about space and spaceflight, as well as the life and work of an astronaut - on the ground, as well as and on the ISS. I'm thankful for all the positive comments and questions I receive every day and I will do my best to answer them on this blog. Stay curious!

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Matthias Maurer

New Year’s science in space for a healthier life

Another year passes, and our muscles, bones, eyes and ears deteriorate as we age – even more so in space. Reactions in ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer’s body after barely two months on the International Space Station are giving European scientists clues on how to fight the downsides of growing old on Earth.

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Matthias Maurer

Matthias launches into first month of space science

Barely three weeks into space life, first-time flyer Matthias Maurer has operated a robotic arm, welcomed a docking module, slept in a brand-new bed and changed plans a few times due to space debris alerts. Even science has not been routine, as he ran a handful of experiments for the very first time in orbit.

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Samantha Cristoforetti

Samantha welcomes a familiar face to Crew-4

NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins has been named the fourth and final member of Crew-4 and she’s no stranger to Samantha Cristoforetti who worked with her underwater during NEEMO 23.

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Matthias Maurer

Cosmic Kiss begins as Crew-3 arrive at the Space Station

The spacecraft carrying ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer and his NASA astronaut colleagues Raja Chari, Thomas Marshburn and Kayla Barron docked to the International Space Station at 00:32 CET Friday, 12 November (23:32 GMT Thursday, 11 November), marking the official start of Matthias's first mission ‘Cosmic Kiss’.

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Matthias Maurer

Watch Crew-3 arrive at the Space Station

Coverage of ESA astronaut Matthias’s Maurer’s journey to the International Space Station continues, with docking now scheduled for 00:23 CET Friday, 12 November (23:33 GMT Thursday, 11 November) and streaming live on NASA TV.

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Matthias Maurer

Crew-3 from suit-up to orbit

ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer will be launched to the International Space Station at 02:03 GMT/03:03 CET Thursday, 11 November as part of Crew-3. Follow the action from suit-up to Space Station welcoming ceremony live on ESA Web TV 2 and on Twitter @esaspaceflight.

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