25 Jan 2017

Media are invited to ESA’s operations centre in Darmstadt, Germany, for a press conference on 2 February at 10:00 CET (09:00 GMT) with the Agency’s latest recruit to its astronaut corps, Matthias Maurer.
Matthias has a background in materials science engineering and was among the 10 finalists for ESA’s astronaut selection in 2009. He is already undergoing basic training in the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany.

ESA Director General Jan Woerner, ESA Director of Human Spaceflight and Robotic Exploration David Parker, DLR board member Gerd Gruppe, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy Brigitte Zypries, and Matthias Maurer will be present and answer questions.

<strong>Programme</strong>
09:30 Doors open
10:00 Welcome and introduction by Jan Woerner, ESA Director General
10:10 Statement from Brigitte Zypries, Parliamentary State Secretary
10:20 Statement from Gerd Gruppe, DLR board member
10:30 Statement from David Parker, ESA Director of Human Spaceflight and Robotic Exploration
10:40 Statement and question and answer session with ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer
11:10 Interview opportunities
12:00 End of event

The event will be held at:
ESA/ESOC
Presscentre (H 05)
Robert-Bosch-Str. 5
64293 Darmstadt
Germany

Register for the event here:
https://myconvento.com/public/event_register/index/1588314

Media contact:
ESA/ESOC Communication Office
Tel: +49 6151 90 2516
Email: esoc.communication@esa.int