Marcus Wandt will be the next Swede in space.
The 42-year-old from Linköping was selected from among 22,500 applicants – within a year he will leave the earth.
– I want to be part of pushing the boundaries of humanity, says the new astronaut.
Wandt was chosen as a reserve astronaut by the European space agency ESA in November and since June he has been a so-called project astronaut, training for a special journey.
The 42-year-old will work at the European space laboratory Columbus, which is part of the ISS.
– It is a great honor to be able to represent Sweden in the international group of astronauts. I want to be part of pushing the boundaries of humanity. When we aim for something difficult and challenging, it forces innovation and technical steps rather than technical steps, says Marcus Wandt.
– By developing things to survive in space, we force innovation that we will be able to benefit from over generations. This drives me strongly, he continues.
Trained fighter pilot
He will be launched from Florida, USA, on one of the Space X rockets in late 2023 or early 2024. More information about Marcus Wandt’s mission will be presented during a press conference at the Government Office in Stockholm on Friday.
– A Swedish astronaut makes it possible for Sweden to obtain new knowledge, says Minister of Education Mats Persson (L) at the press conference.
Wandt has attended the officer program at Karlberg Military Academy and is a trained fighter pilot, in both Sweden and the USA. He will now be the third Swede in history to explore the mysteries of space – and the fact that he would even apply for the job was not his own idea.
– It was my wife who said; do you know they are looking for astronauts?, he says.