Denmark's first astronaut, Andreas Mogensen, has been assigned a new mission to the International Space Station (ISS). This has just been announced by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research and the European Space Agency ESA in connection with the Space Conference 2022, held at DTU on Thursday, 24 March.
This is the Danish ESA astronaut's second mission. In 2015, Mogensen became the first Danish astronaut in space on a 10-day mission to the ISS. He took photos of giant lightning discharges over the clouds as part of the research project THOR, which is led by DTU Space.
The new mission will be longer and the responsibility greater. This time, Mogensen will be a pilot on a NASA SpaceX mission sent into space from the United States aboard a Dragon spacecraft. He is the first non-American to pilot a SpaceX mission.
"We wish Andreas Mogensen and the rest of Denmark big congratulations on being assigned a new mission in space. The fact that he is going on a second mission--and as a pilot--shows that Denmark is still considered a strong space nation. We can contribute with research, technology and thus also world-class crew members. It is awe-inspiring, and I wish Andreas big congratulations," says DTU President Anders Bjarklev.
Successful collaboration since 2015
In addition to being an astronaut, Andreas Mogensen is a trained engineer in the USA and an adjunct associate professor at DTU. The THOR project in 2015 was part of the preparations for the ASIM mission, which was sent to the ISS in 2018 under the scientific leadership of DTU Space. ASIM is mounted outside the ISS and records energy discharges from lightning in various wavelength ranges.
The mission has formed the basis for research findings that have ended up on the cover of the world's most recognized scientific journals such as Nature and Science. ASIM has therefore been extended to 2025.
"We had an excellent collaboration with Andreas in connection with his first mission. We look forward to continuing with new exciting space projects when he leaves again," says department director at DTU Space, Henning Skriver, and continues:
"It is a great recognition of the entire Danish space sector that we can be proud of. DTU Space is at the forefront of international space research and has been involved in major missions, because we are known for delivering very high quality space research and space technology."
New project ideas from DTU
There are several ideas that DTU will submit to ESA for consideration in connection with Andreas Mogensen's new mission.
One of the projects is a follow-up to the THOR project called THOR II. The idea is that he will be equipped with a better camera to take new pictures of the violent lightning that goes from the clouds and into space. The images will be added to data retrieved with the ASIM instruments.
Another project already being prepared in collaboration with ESA is the fabrication of a 3D-printed metal item on the ISS. A copy is made on the ground. Researchers at DTU Space will then compare the two items to see if it is possible to produce it with the precision and properties needed to manufacture the sensitive camera and navigation equipment for space use.
In addition, DTU proposes a project where Andreas Mogensen will test a Virtual Reality (VR) system for astronauts' mental health on more extended stays in space. The VR system has been used successfully in the LUNARK project, where two subjects lived isolated in the Arctic in a simulated lunar habitat for three months. The VR system for Andreas Mogensen's mission is the first step towards a method for upcoming Moon and Mars missions, where astronauts have to survive physically and thrive mentally.
In addition, the project 'Strictly Come Dancing in space' is being considered. If accepted, Andreas Mogensen will lead an experiment to see how simultaneous movements among astronauts in the space station can possibly affect its stability. Secondly, whether it can be detected using DTU Space camera systems already in place on the space station.
Read more in the press release from ESA.
Read more in the press release from The Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science.