space travel
Astronaut Maurer misses the view of Earth
Matthias Maurer after returning from his space mission. photo
© Federico Gambarini/dpa
The German astronaut Matthias Maurer spent six months in space on the ISS space station. He’s been back since May and has to get used to a lot of changes – it’s not always easy.
Astronaut Matthias Maurer (52) has settled back well on earth after his return from space. “I’m the same as before,” said the Saarland native of the German Press Agency.
“There might be a very small difference in terms of fitness or mobility.” But that’s normal. “If you fly six months, the rule of thumb is that it also takes six months for the body to be like it was before the flight.” The astronaut from the European space agency Esa returned to earth on May 6 after almost six months on the ISS.
What does he miss from the International Space Station? “Of course, looking down on the ground,” said Maurer. “That’s what the most beautiful memory is.” But he also misses “floating” in weightlessness, the nice community with colleagues and “being away from earthly problems” – such as the energy crisis or Corona.
But he doesn’t miss the time pressure he felt on the ISS. Each day was completely planned with experiments and activities. As a kind of clock hand, there is a red line, the “timeline”, and you always have to try to be on the right side of the “timeline”. “If you’re to the left of it, then you’re behind.” And if you’re to the right of it, you’ve built up a bit of a buffer. He is currently looking forward to “being in control of his own day again”.