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\t\t\t\t\t\t09\/02\/2024<\/span> After 20 days in space, ESA project astronaut Marcus Wandt returned to Earth today at 13:30 GMT\/14:30 CET, marking the end of his Muninn mission to the International Space Station (ISS).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Marcus and the Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) crew waved goodbye last Wednesday to their crewmates on the orbital complex, including ESA fellow astronaut and commander Andreas Mogensen. This was the first time two Scandinavians lived and worked together in space.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The Ax-3 crew closed the hatch of the SpaceX Dragon capsule at at 12:25 GMT\/ 13:25 CET on 7 February. The spacecraft undocked autonomously from the Space Station two hours later, at 14:20 GMT\/15:20 CET. By that time, Marcus completed about 288 orbits around Earth.<\/p>\n Marcus served as a mission specialist during the journey, sharing the ride with Walter Villadei from Italy, Alper Gezeravc\u0131 from T\u00fcrkiye and Michael L\u00f3pez-Alegr\u00eda, a dual US-Spanish citizen.<\/p>\n After completing a series of burns to lower its orbit, the spacecraft entered Earth\u2019s atmosphere and deployed its parachutes for a water-landing. Marcus and crew splashed down off the coast of Florida, USA, on 9 February at 13:30 GMT\/14:30 CET. The trip back to our home planet took them about 47 hours.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Marcus will now fly to Cologne, Germany, where he will be monitored by ESA\u2019s space medicine team as he readapts to Earth\u2019s gravity at ESA\u2019s European Astronaut Centre and at the German Aerospace Centre\u2019s :envihab facility.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Marcus blasted into space towards the Space Station on 18 January 2024. During his time on board, Marcus supported nearly 20 European experiments and spent more than 100 hours conducting science and technology demonstrations.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cDuring his nearly three-week stay on the Space Station Marcus carried out a series of experiments for the benefit of Swedish and international research,\u201d says Anna Rathsman, Director General of the Swedish National Space Agency, upon Marcus\u2019s return.<\/p>\n “Through his spaceflight, he contributed to maintain Sweden as a leading nation in space knowledge. He is also a source of inspiration for a whole generation of Swedes in natural sciences,” she adds.<\/p>\n \u201cSweden\u2019s swift and robust decision-making is at the heart of Muninn mission success. Marcus\u2019s fast-track mission\u00a0as an ESA project astronaut\u00a0showed that through ESA, Europe can be agile and flexible and ready to join a changing human-spaceflight landscape,\u201d added ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cThis mission of firsts\u00a0diversified our access to space, accelerated important science and research, and helped gain\u00a0experience with new partners. The Muninn mission has better prepared ESA and Europe for a post-ISS future,\u201d says Josef Aschbacher.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The Muninn mission carries on a legacy of relevant European research in multiple science domains. The findings will help shape the future of human and robotic exploration while enhancing technological developments on Earth.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Marcus operated from space a team of robots on Earth for the Surface Avatar experiment, giving European teams valuable feedback to improve the intuitive interface and paving the way to future robotic teleoperations.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The European astronaut ran the Swedish experiment Orbital Architecture to investigate how people\u2019s physical and psychological well-being can be affected by living in extreme and confined environments.<\/p>\n Another Swedish experiment looking at the unexpected benefits of microgravity was Memo BC. Marcus placed boundary cap neural stem cells in the ICE Cubes facility on Europe\u2019s Columbus module to monitor changes in their cellular structures and gene expression. Researchers believe that this type of cell could support the survival of other cells after being exposed to microgravity.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Marcus also took photos from space and used a 360\u00b0 camera to record a tour of the Space Station, connecting with global audiences and the younger generations.<\/p>\n Find more about the Muninn science and with a comprehensive media kit in English and Swedish, and check the Muninn website for regular updates, images and videos.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nScience that matters<\/h2>\n
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