Alexander Gerst

Alexander Gerst, born on May third, nineteen seventy-six, is a distinguished German astronaut and geophysicist, recognized for his significant contributions to space exploration. Selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) in two thousand nine, he embarked on rigorous space training that would prepare him for his remarkable missions aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Gerst's first journey into space took place from May to November two thousand fourteen, during which he participated in Expeditions forty and forty-one. His return to space on June sixth, two thousand eighteen, marked another milestone as he took command of the ISS during Expeditions fifty-six and fifty-seven. He successfully returned to Earth on December twentieth, two thousand eighteen, after an impactful mission.

Notably, Gerst held the record for the most time spent in space by any active ESA astronaut, totaling three hundred sixty-two days, until he was surpassed by Luca Parmitano in two thousand twenty. This achievement followed his predecessors, Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli and German ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter, who previously held the record for the longest duration in space among ESA astronauts.