We choose to go to the Moon - Bring Ian to Houston

Space is hard and challenging. Many times money is the key factor for success and often projects fail just because of that! One of my projects that is currently at the risk of failing because of the lack of money is attending the International Space University ’s Space Study Program in Houston , Texas.

Becoming a Flight Controller for a Human Spaceflight Programme has been a dream of mine since I watched the movie Apollo 13 with Ed Harris as the Flight Director Gene Kranz. Working in a team under time pressure to accomplish and support a human spaceflight mission was awe-inspiring right from that moment, and I knew from that moment that this is what I wanted to be a part of.

Over the past 10 years, I’ve been working hard on fulfilling that dream: I successfully completed first an internship at the European Astronaut Centre as a high school student, supporting the EUROCOM Flight Controllers on console. Then, as a university student, I interned at an ISS payload operations control Center (called B.USOC) in Brussels, Belgium, where I was part of the Team that supported and controlled science experiments inside the ISS Columbus module. As my bachelor’s thesis, I was allowed to design and develop a spacewalk for the Moon that would first be tested in ESA’s LUNA analog facility in Cologne.

While studying, first at the FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences and now at the University of Stuttgart , I was never tired of sharing my passion for human spaceflight in various capacities. On X/Twitter , I share the latest activities on the International Space Station. As a Yuri’s Night Association member, I organize public events themed on Human Spaceflight. At the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), I organize workshops and industry visits for other students and Young Professionals. I support the German YouTube Channel “Senkrechtstarter” with various reports about ISS and Human Spaceflight news. As a student project leader, I led multiple student projects at my 2 universities, such as operating an amateur radio satellite ground station, controlling a LEGO robot from space, developing a rover for the LUNA analog facility, and many more.

When news reached me that this year’s International Space University Space Studies Program, a 9-week immersive program for future space leaders, will take place in Houston, Texas, in cooperation with NASA’s Johnson Space Center, I was electrified and knew I had to apply. This program would give me not only the unique chance to develop further my skills needed to become a Flight Controller but also would give me the chance to do that at the heart of human spaceflight at NASA’s Johnson Space Center and to interact with my role models who are working there in Mission Control.

On the 16th of February came the news: I’ve been admitted to the program. However, there is a catch: to participate in the program, I must pay 10.000€ in admission fees, 1500€ for the flight to Houston, and 500€ for the student visa. Money I, as a full-time master’s degree student, do not possess. In addition, 1000€ would have to be paid by the end of February 2024, with the remaining 9000€ until the end of March 2024.

Therefore, I am asking you for financial support to help me fulfill my dream of attending the International Space University Space Studies Program 2024 in Houston, Texas!

If the money can be collected and I will be able to attend the Program you can be assured that I will take you with you along the ride with reports on social media platforms such as X/twitter , blog reports and of course on the German Youtube Channel “Senkrechtstarter” where I will report about potential visits to NASA, Axiom Space, SpaceX, Voyager Space and any other visits and experiences during the program I will be allowed to talk about.