“You don’t have to be a genius in math or physics” to be an astronaut, he assures: “You have to be versatile and versatile.”
Madrid, 2 July. (Europe Press) –
Selected by the European Space Agency (ESA), Spanish astronaut Pablo Álvarez Fernández (Leon, 1988) supported the creation of the Spanish Space Agency, headquartered in Seville.
“It seems to me that this is a step forward in the field of space,” the Spanish astronaut told Europa Press, who began his training at the European Space Center in Cologne on April 3, where he will complete twelve months of training.
According to Pablo Alvarez, “the Spanish space policy needs to be integrated into a single system, instead of being divided between several ministries, such as CDTI and INDA”. “Other countries like Italy, France, Germany, the United Kingdom or Poland are around us in ESA and have their own institute,” he adds.
With general elections soon to be held and a new government formed, Lyonnais is calling for greater investment in science because “investing in the future creates jobs, creates long-term wealth and improves the lives of all.”
Therefore, in Spain “there are many good researchers, but it is necessary for them to have adequate working conditions, funding and reducing bureaucratic obstacles so that they can devote themselves to research and not to managing documents”.
Getting to the European level of investment in R&D
In this context, Álvarez recalled that in 2022 Spain invested 1.5 of its GDP in R&D, while Germany invested about 3% and the EU average was 2.3%. “I think it’s important to catch up with the rest of Europe,” he warns.
When asked about the possibility of humans traveling to Mars in 2040, the astronaut emphasizes the importance of setting “relatively complex goals that pose a scientific and technological challenge.”
However, he cautions, “Milestones need to be met little by little.” “And, after all, we have a lot to learn on the moon before we go any further, the challenge is enormous. I’ll be happy as long as it’s technically possible, and the plan for the trip was to return to Earth! But! I’ve only been here for three months! Practice!”, he said to the Red Planet. Mentions the possibility of travel.
Get ready to go to space from 2026
The first astronaut of Pablo Alvarez’s generation will go into space in early 2026. At this time, the expeditions of the Spaniard and his companions to the International Space Station are planned and estimated for six months.
Alvarez considers the “most important” of these tasks to be “scientific returns,” so his dream mission would be one that contributes to “finding a cure for some disease or improving the conditions of those who suffer from it.” Several experiments on the International Space Station are “heading in that direction.”
According to the ESA astronaut, a trip to space has “many faces” as there is a technical and scientific part, one for dissemination and the other for exploration and adventure. “But nothing can
It surpasses the experience of seeing Earth from space!”, he notes.
Regarding his relationship with his teammates and the areas where he stands out from them, Alvarez notes, “Everyone is so good, it’s very difficult to stand out in something”. “But the most important thing is not to be good at something, the most important thing is not to have obvious weaknesses or something that you are exceptionally bad at, that’s what they look for in all the tests of the process. You don’t have to be a genius at maths, physics or multitasking, you have to be versatile and versatile. to have,” he says.
“We get along well, far from what you think or the usual image of astronauts, there is no competition in the environment. It helps to know that in principle we are all going to fly and that order is not necessary. It depends on who is best at one activity or the other. Also, they are all exceptional people. !”, he celebrates.
Space food “isn’t as scary as many people imagine”
In his nearly three months of training, the astronaut has already acquired “some basic concepts” about space nutrition. “Space food has gotten really good in recent years, and I’m going to miss a lot about Earth, and it’s not as terrible as a lot of people imagine,” he says.
Because of the changes in human metabolism in space, Alvarez highlights the importance of “maintaining a balanced diet, taking appropriate supplements if needed and at least having a social area and eating at a table with fellow travelers.” .
An astronaut, according to the Spanish, “must master many fields”, so during the first year in Cologne they must receive general training in all of them, and they will all receive “everything at the same speed”. Various experiences as pilots, engineers or doctors.
Among other things, he has taken classes in more practical fields such as medicine, history of human flight, biology, human performance, physiology, aerospace psychology, photography and scuba diving to prepare for future extra-vehicular operations training. “Physical preparation is also very important,” he noted.
Get blood drawn, scuba dive or take a psychology class
The most complicated part of training at ESA for the Spanish astronaut is “managing the amount of information in the different subjects” they have to master. “In the same day you have to learn to draw blood, go scuba diving, go to a class on space stations and complete a psychology class. Yes, we have exams too!”, he says.
Astronauts also have psychological support if they need it, and once they are assigned a mission, they “repeat” all the emergency procedures so that the day they have to fly looks like “just another day at the office.” .
Despite the intensive training he receives, the Spaniard has time to disconnect and devote time to leisure, so he has already been able to explore Colonia and its surroundings and is planning a trip to the Picos de Europa. “There’s a time for everything, and it’s important to maintain a balance between your personal and professional life,” she highlights.
Referring to the use of artificial intelligence in the space industry, the astronaut emphasized that this technology “is here and will have an impact on all sectors”, so that space “is not new to it”: “from its impact on most industrial areas, autonomous vehicles, improved security systems, air and space traffic control …”.
However, at the moment they haven’t received any specific training on artificial intelligence, but Alvarez expects “it will definitely have an impact” on his career development.
