EN - ESA - European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst (Germany) International Space Station mission overview before he comes back on #Earth in Kazakhstan on November 10th, 2014 - 04.11.2014 - International Space Station. Alexander Gerst, the third German to visit the International Space Station, will shortly return to Earth after #166days in orbit. A member of ESAs astronaut corps since 2009, it took five years of non-stop training with the stations international partners to prepare him for the challenge. Travelling between Germany, Russia, the United States, Canada and Japan, he learned the skills hed need to fly to and from the ISS and work as a member of its onboard crew. The Blue Dot mission began on #May28th2014, when Alexander Gerst was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. Travelling in a Russian Soyuz capsule with crewmates Reid Wiseman and Maxim Surayev, the journey took just six hours. Soon the airlock was opened and the ESA astronaut entered the station to begin his new role as flight engineer. Over the next six months Gerst followed a strictly controlled timeline of activities. Much of his time was spent on scientific research, carrying out around 40 European experiments as well as several international projects. In ESAs Columbus laboratory he used the electromagnetic levitator, a special furnace used for studying the behaviour of molten metals free from the influence of gravity. Life sciences, fluid physics and testing of new technologies were also part of the agenda – with experiments going on both inside and outside the ISS. Like any astronaut undergoing a long-duration mission, Gersts body is monitored monitored before, during and after the mission. The data provided by these studies has important applications, both in spaceflight and for healthcare back on Earth. Alexander Gerst has also played his part in the day to day running of the space station, which is serviced by a number of a freight vessels. In August ESAs fifth Automated Transfer vehicle arrived, with Gerst overseeing the docking process before unloading tonnes of equipment and supplies. Its the last ATV to fly, and will remain attached to the ISS providing extra space and reboost facilities before undocking next February. No doubt the personal highlight of Alexander Gersts mission was his first spacewalk on October 7th. Together with NASAs Reid Wiseman, he spent over six hours outside the ISS installing a failed pump, replacing a camera light and upgrading the power unit on the stations moveable cart – a task comparable to rewiring a car engine while wearing motorcycle gloves, according to veteran ESA astronaut Hans Schlegel. Safely back on board, Alexander Gerst is now making the most of his final few days in orbit. Shortly hell enter the Soyuz for his return to Earth, landing on the Kazakhstan Steppes less than four hours after undocking. Preparations are already underway for the November launch of ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti – continuing Europes presence onboard the International Space Station. © ESA 2014 - All rights reserved.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Nov 2014 21:39:08 +0000
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