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“But it’s hard being so far away from home, friends and family,” Sieber said. Since April, the 34-year-old from Kirchberg BE has been training for missions in space at the European Space Agency (ESA) training center in Cologne. He was chosen, along with four other candidates, from more than 22,500 candidates.
In a few years, things will go much further for Sieber: New astronauts will be assigned to a mission after completing basic training. The remainder of the training is tailored to specific job duties. No further details have been decided yet. “My first flight to the International Space Station (ISS) is expected to occur between 2026 and 2030,” Sieber said.
He is not afraid of it. “You are psychologically prepared for this throughout your entire training,” Sieber said. Additionally, Sieber believed that the six months normally spent on the space station would pass quickly.
Will you be the first European to go to the moon?
Sieber’s dream destination is the moon. “No European has ever managed to set foot on another celestial body. That would be very special,” he said. But he can’t imagine a mission to Mars right now. “I wouldn’t do a one-way mission. The technology is not yet advanced enough to make it possible to find a safe route to Mars. Things may look different when the technology is ready.”
Until now, Sieber and his colleagues in the astronaut class had to learn the theory first. The astronaut candidate explained that the purpose of basic training is to create background knowledge in the fields of biology, medicine, physics and technology. Photography course is also part of the training. “There’s a new topic every week. It’s a challenge to remember everything you’ve learned,” Sieber admitted. “I’ve found astronomy classes to be the most exciting so far, but I really look forward to each new week.”
Astronauts also have diving lessons. “Learning how to get outside the space station, for example to repair something,” Sieber explained. Fitness training at least three times a week is also included in the program. “It’s so you don’t fall off the hook when you lose muscle in space,” Sieber explained.
“There is definitely room for private life”
According to Sieber, astronaut apprentices also learn Russian. At the end of basic training, you must master the language up to B1 level. Sieber said this was necessary to work on the Russian portion of the ISS and exchange information with Russian counterparts. Russia’s war in Ukraine is a big topic at ESA. “Cooperation with Russia has ended in many areas. European astronauts used to be launched into space on Russian rockets, for example, but today this is no longer done. But the ISS would not work without Russia and the USA.”
Training to become an astronaut was closely planned, Sieber says. But as a doctor, he is used to a tight work schedule. “I was generally working more hours a week at the hospital,” he says. “There is definitely room for privacy.” He is also in a relationship.
An astronaut’s salary is comparable to that of a junior doctor. “But as an astronaut, you can’t reach the salary of a doctor with certain specialties or a private practice.”
As an astronaut, Sieber wants to inspire young people to achieve something. Just like the first Swiss astronaut Claude Nicollier did. “For me, it is still unimaginable to follow in his footsteps,” Sieber says. It was a great honor for him to meet Nicollier.(SDA)
Source : Blick
I am Dawid Malan, a news reporter for 24 Instant News. I specialize in celebrity and entertainment news, writing stories that capture the attention of readers from all walks of life. My work has been featured in some of the world’s leading publications and I am passionate about delivering quality content to my readers.
