Live interview from the ISS at ILA Berlin 2026
On 19 June 2026, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot joined the ILA Berlin event while aboard the International Space Station (ISS). In a roughly 19‑minute live segment she answered questions about daily life in orbit, scientific work on the station, and Europe’s long‑term human‑spaceflight strategy.
The discussion also featured ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher, ESA Director of Human and Robotic Exploration Daniel Neuenschwander, fellow ESA astronauts Alexander Gerst and Matthias Maurer, and Thomas Reiter – head of the Space and Security Department at Germany’s Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) and former ESA astronaut. Topics included current ISS missions, development of new launch vehicles and Europe’s plans to return to the Moon.
Participants stressed that international cooperation remains the backbone of ISS operations and that Europe aims to reinforce its role through the development of a new crew‑capable spacecraft and participation in NASA’s Artemis programme. Adenot highlighted the importance of inspiring the next generation in science and engineering, pointing to educational activities conducted from the station.
- First‑hand view of an astronaut’s routine on the ISS
- Discussion of Europe’s strategic goals in crewed spaceflight
- Integration of political and scientific perspectives
The full recording is available through the ILA replay archive.