Matthias Maurer traveled to the International Space Station on 10 November 2021 as part of the SpaceX Crew-3 mission, becoming the twelfth German astronaut. His flight, designated Cosmic Kiss, drew inspiration from the Nebra sky disk, which represents the oldest known realistic depiction of the night sky, and lasted 176 days before his return to Earth in May 2022.
Academic and Scientific Foundation
Born in 1970 in Sankt Wendel, Maurer pursued a broad international education in materials science. He studied at Saarland University, the École européenne d’ingénieurs en génie des matériaux, the University of Leeds, and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. In 2004, he earned a doctorate in engineering from RWTH Aachen University, where his research focused on aluminium foam composites. He later completed an MBA at the University of Hagen in 2006.
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Maurer initially applied to the European Space Agency in 2008 among a pool of 8,500 candidates. Although not selected for the corps immediately, he began working as a crew support engineer and eurocom for the Columbus flight control team in 2010. He joined the European Astronaut Corps formally in 2015 after leading various projects focused on lunar operations and international partnerships.
Training and Specialized Programs
Before his flight assignment, Maurer participated in multiple analog missions to prepare for space environments. These included the 2016 NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations 21 in Florida and the PANGAEA field geology training. By 2018, he achieved full certification for spaceflight and spacewalks using the American EMU spacesuit. His preparation also included extensive linguistic training in Russian and Chinese.
Expedition 66 Achievements
During his mission, Maurer served as a crew member for Expedition 66. Alongside NASA astronaut Raja Chari, he conducted maintenance tasks outside the International Space Station, including the installation of ammonia jumpers on the P1 Truss and work on the Bartolomeo platform. Following the successful landing in the Gulf of Mexico on 6 May 2022, he received the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal.
Fast facts
- Born: 1970, Sankt Wendel, Germany
- Mission Name: Cosmic Kiss
- Education: RWTH Aachen University, Dr.-Ing.
- Space Agency: European Space Agency
- Selected for Astronaut Corps: 2015
- Languages spoken: German, English, Spanish, French, Russian, Chinese, Catalan
- Award: Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit (2022)
Questions readers ask
Did Matthias Maurer complete a spacewalk?
Yes, he performed spacewalk-related maintenance tasks on the International Space Station, such as installing ammonia jumpers, during his time with Expedition 66.
What was the scientific focus of his doctoral dissertation?
His work centered on lightweight composites created from aluminium foam with thermally sprayed coatings.
Achievements
- Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany — 2022
- Affiliated with European Space Agency
- Educated at Saarland University, University of Lorraine and University of Leeds
- Worked as astronaut, materials scientist and scientist
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