Countdown: 10 days left before the first space flight by a Danish national
The countdown for the first space mission by a Danish national has started. It will begin in 10 days. In the morning of Wednesday 2 September the Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen from the European Space Agency (ESA) settles in in a Soyuz spacecraft together with a Russian and a Kazakh cosmonaut. The launch takes place from the Russian spaceport in Baikonur in Kazakstan. The Minister for Higher Education and Science Esben Lunde Larsen will be present in Kazakstan to to give the first Dane in space a good send-off.
The Danish ESA astronaut is already in Baikonur where he, together with the many persons working with the mission, is in isolation in order to avoid being sick or risk infecting the other crew members on ISS: Before Andreas Mogensen left for Baikonur, Esben Lunde Larsen spoke on the phone with him and the Minister was very impressed with the 38-year-old Dane:
- Andreas Mogensen has passed one of the world's strictest and most competitive selection processes with flying colours. His becoming an astronaut is an impressive feat of strength. This is a historic event and on behalf of Denmark, I would like to say how very proud I am, says Minister for Higher Education and Science Esben Lunde Larsen.
Space science makes sense
During the mission Andreas Mogensen will among other things test new technologies, have scientific experiments made on him and replace a spacecraft on ISS. Several Danish companies and research institutions are involved in the mission. And through the last couple of years there have been a large number of events about Andreas Mogensen’s mission – not least for primary school students.
- Andreas Mogensen is not only an explorer in space, he is also an icebreaker for Danish space science and Danish companies. Moreover, he is a fantastic ambassador for natural science, says Esben Lunde Larsen.
The mission lasts 10 days. And a few days after his return to Earth, Andreas Mogensen visits Denmark where he among other things will hold a press conference.
Read more about the mission and Andreas Mogensen
On the ufm.dk you can read about a number of free arrangements where you can learn much more about space, Earth seen from space and the Danish activities that is connected to the European space cooperation.
More information about the mission, the attached educational activities, Andreas Mogensen’s training and his activities on ISS can be found on:
For further information please contact:
Head of press Jesper Langergaard, tel: +45 7231 8020, e-mail: jela@ufm.dk
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