Rabea Rogge: First German woman in space – The historic flight!

Rabea Rogge: First German woman in space – The historic flight!

German space history has reached a new milestone: Rabea Rogge is the first German woman to fly into space. Their historical flight began at 9:46 a.m. US time on April 1, 2025 from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This major mission, known as “Fram2,” will study Earth’s polar regions and test new technologies.

Rabea Rogge, a 29-year-old electrical engineer, took her first step into the annals of space travel aboard a SpaceX rocket. On the first day of her trip, she communicated with the amateur radio club of the TU Berlin (AFuTUB) at 9:30 a.m. (CEST). During this communication, the Governing Mayor of Berlin asked questions that were also asked by pupils and students of the TU Berlin.

An exciting flight

The Fram2 mission is expected to last four days and is unique in that it flies over the Earth's poles. Rogge and her crew, consisting of three other members, are tasked with carrying out a variety of more than 20 experiments. These include the study of northern lights, the first x-rays in space and the cultivation of mushrooms in weightlessness. Astronauts have not yet had a comprehensive view of the polar regions, including the crews of the International Space Station (ISS).

After launch, the rocket separated the first stage as planned, which landed safely on a platform in the Atlantic. Rogge herself is not a trained astronaut, and her mission is financed by billionaire Chun Wang, who is also on board. Before Rabea Rogge, twelve German men had already entered space, with the first, Sigmund Jähn, flying into space in August 1978.

Return to Earth and memories

After returning to TU Berlin, Rogge met with the amateur radio operators she had spoken to during the flight. Together they visited the university's radio room, from which the conversation was broadcast live. Looking back on her experiences in space, Rogge shared that she found the feeling of weightlessness particularly impressive.

The young engineer also expressed her desire to fly into space again if the opportunity presented itself. On this first flight into space she also had a medal from the Berlin Museum of Technology with her, honoring the aviation pioneer Otto Lilienthal.

With her courageous step into the vastness of the cosmos, Rabea Rogge not only made history, but also created inspiration for future generations. Their mission is a symbol of progress and equal opportunities in science and space travel.

For more details on Rabea Rogge's historic mission, visit the websites of TU Berlin, rbb24, and Mirror.