space travel
Astronaut Maurer worries about gravity
German astronaut Matthias Maurer poses for a selfie during an external mission to the ISS space station. Photo: Matthias Maurer/NASA/ESA/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
The German astronaut Matthias Maurer has been living and working on the International Space Station ISS for months. The journey home is coming up soon – and this is also associated with fears.
German astronaut Matthias Maurer is most terrified of gravity before his return from the International Space Station.
“I’m least looking forward to gravity,” said the 52-year-old at a press conference from the ISS. He’ll have to get used to that again. Maurer is expected to return to Earth from space at the end of the month.
Most of all he looks forward to his family and friends – and to smelling the smells of the earth again. “In here the air is always filtered and the smells are very limited.” He’s looking forward to the wind, the sun – and being able to jump into the water.
The astronaut from the European Space Agency Esa, who has been in space since November, has now worked on dozens of experiments on the ISS. His personal highlights were the launch, the arrival at the ISS and his field work, said Maurer. “And hopefully the landing will be the next.”