My father would tell me of a time before we left the Earth;
when we were confined to the surface of the planet;
but our curiosity soon changed that.
Human ingenuity soon carried us aloft;
as our dreams of building a road to the stars
propelled our first cosmonauts and astronauts into orbit.
By the time I was born our first space stations
were already circling the Earth….
….learning how to engineer for everything we needed
to live beyond the biosphere.
And I grew up dreaming of such adventures and challenges.
These dreams propelled me into science,
and on to become an engineer;
joining the quest to build better systems for supporting life in space.
And even more ambitious space stations.
Attempting to live for years away from Earth taught us one thing.
This common challenge of living permanently beyond the planet
is a truly international endeavor.
Together, we found a way to build this dream.
Working as a single global team for one peaceful goal.
Since the first habitable modules were launched over 17 years ago,
more than 220 people have visited the International Space Station;
living, working and maintaining our new home
- a permanent human presence beyond the planet.
As an engineer I’m proud to say that I’ve contributed to this great project,
to push the human spirit outwards.
And as we build humanity’s new road back to the Moon and on to Mars,
we are here in Low Earth Orbit to stay.
Today, over 15 years on,
the International Space Station is as much a laboratory
as it is a space ship.
And today’s visitors are scientists; engineers, and medics;
in additional to being astronauts.
A unique world class science facility for the benefit of all Mankind.
The technology used to track a patient’s eye
and precisely direct the laser scalpel for surgery to correct eyesight
was first developed for use in space.
This underwater robot,
developed to train for spacewalks in neutral buoyancy pools on Earth
– is now being tested in the Mediterranean Sea
for potential mining applications
and for locating lost aircraft black boxes.
And learning how to sustain human life in orbit
has meant cultivating food in challenging conditions;
that’s lead to breakthroughs in the way food is grown,
monitored and conserved on Earth.
Just three examples, of dozens of technological breakthroughs;
kick started by research onboard the space station,
which are already having an economic impact on Earth.
Space is becoming a part of our culture, our commerce, our community.
And new markets are emerging as we learn what’s really possible
when we build a new home beyond our planet;
Creating a world where living, working and exploring space
is as familiar to humanity as life on our home planet.
With the ISS we have truly colonised Low Earth Orbit.
Commercial flights are already providing services…
and the next generation of orbiting space stations
will become even more science focused.
Low Earth Orbit is becoming an increasingly commercial destination.
At ESA - we see significant opportunity
for sustained business research with industrial partners.
It’s time to welcome you on board.
My name is Andreas Mogenson and I’m an engineer and scientist
who lives and works in orbit.
It’s a journey that started for me as a child.
Join us on the journey that keeps moving humanity forwards and outwards
– as our remarkable society expands off Earth.
Together we are becoming a space fairing species.
What will you do in orbit for your business?
For humanity?
The only limit is your imagination.