European Space Agency: Record number of European astronauts in space

DPA
·1 min read
Josef Aschbacher, Director General of the European Space Agency Esa, speaks during an interview with the dpa. Jens Kalaene/dpa
Josef Aschbacher, Director General of the European Space Agency Esa, speaks during an interview with the dpa. Jens Kalaene/dpa

There are more European astronauts in space than ever before, according to the European Space Agency (ESA).

"This is a new record," said ESA chief, Josef Aschbacher, at a European space conference in Brussels on Tuesday. A total of five astronauts from Europe are currently on the International Space Station ISS.

On Saturday, Spanish-born and former NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría, Italian Walter Villadei, Swede Marcus Wandt and Turkish-born Alper Gezeravci docked at the ISS on board a "Crew Dragon" from the private space company SpaceX, which is owned by billionaire Elon Musk.

The current commander of the ISS, Andreas Mogensen, who comes from Denmark, has been on the space station since August 27.

"It was an incredible flight," said Wandt, who joined Mogensen at the conference live from the space station. He and his colleagues will now carry out numerous experiments, including those relating to climate research and atmospheric research, Wandt said.

Most recently, they set up a system for controlling robots on Earth, the astronauts reported.