19:00-19:30 CEST, Thursday 28 October
Live from the launchpad: Astro Alex talks space (English)
Grab your phone and tune in for a special Instagram Live event featuring experienced ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst. Alex is in Florida for the launch of Matthias Maurer. He will join @europeanspaceagency from his @astro_alex_esa account to share his own experiences as well as what Matthias can expect when he arrives in orbit.
Crew-3 astronauts Matthias Maurer, Kayla Barron, Raja Chari and Tom Marshburn. Credit: SpaceX
15:00-16:00 CEST, Friday 29 October
Virtual Q&A with Matthias Maurer (English and German)
Learn more about the latest launch preparations and highlights of Matthias Maurer’s upcoming Cosmic Kiss mission aboard the International Space Station in this virtual Q&A. This is the final opportunity for media in Florida and online to put their questions to Matthias in German or English ahead of his launch to the International Space Station. Only registered media will be able to ask questions, but everyone can watch the livestream on ESA Web TV.
From 03:00 CET, Sunday 31 October
Launch coverage, ESA Web TV (English)
Don’t miss the uninterrupted live launch coverage of the Crew-3 launch on ESA Web TV channel two. Coverage will run from launch, through to docking, hatch opening and the welcome ceremony in which Matthias and his Crew-3 colleagues will be welcomed aboard by current International Space Station commander and ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet.
From 06:15 CET, Sunday 31 October
Live and livestream, Zeiss-Großplanetarium Berlin (German)
Jennifer Ngo-Anh, ESA Research and Payloads Programme Coordinator and Thomas Reiter, former ESA astronaut, will join the programme of this German language launch event hosted by the Zeiss-Großplanetarium in Berlin. A limited number of in-person places are available, with the event also be streamed online. Full details here.
Matthias Maurer’s name and the German flag on his SpaceX spacesuit. Credit: SpaceXFrom 05:30 CET, Sunday 31 October
Launch party, Bliestalhalle Oberthal (German)
Juergen Schlutz, Facility Development and Utilisation Engineer at ESA’s European Astronaut Centre (EAC), Bernhard von Weyhe, Senior ESA Media Relations Officer, and Anna Jacobs, ESA Branding and Corporate Identity Officer will join the programme of a launch event hosted by the district St Wendel in Saarland. Full details of the Saarland event here.
From 06:11 CET, Sunday 31 October
German Aerospace Center, DLR livestream (German)
The German Aerospace Agency will run a livestream of Matthias’s launch from 06:11 CET on YouTube. DLR Next also has a programme planned for children and young people from 06:45 CET.
All the time
Cosmic Kiss mission playlist
Holding your own event or just after some stellar listening? Tune in to the official Cosmic Kiss mission playlist on ESA’s Spotify channel. This mix of songs selected by Matthias and submitted by his social media followers has something for every occasion and is the ideal soundtrack for space.