Rabea Rogge: First German in space – A historic moment for Germany!

Rabea Rogge: First German in space – A historic moment for Germany!

On April 1, 2025, the Technical University of Berlin (TU Berlin) will conduct an amateur radio experiment that is not only a technical masterpiece, but also marks a significant historical moment. On this day will Rabea Rogge, a former TU student, became the first German woman to go into space. Their extraordinary flight is part of the Fram2 space mission, which will lift off from the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 3:46 a.m. German time.

Rogge will fly aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule, which will be launched into orbit by a Falcon 9 rocket. The Fram2 mission is expected to last around four days and fly over the Earth's polar regions in a polar orbit with an inclination of 90 degrees. This mission aims to conduct scientific research in these remote areas as well as research new technologies for future long-duration missions.

Livestream and communication

On the morning of April 1, 2025, there is planned radio contact with Rogge at 9:28 a.m., which will be broadcast via a live stream from TU Berlin. The live stream starts at 9:20 a.m. German time and will broadcast the radio conversations from the radio room in Berlin-Charlottenburg live on the TU Berlin YouTube channel. The TU radio operators will give comments on the radio experiments and offer insights into their work.

Other crew members such as the Norwegian Jannicke Mikkelsen and the Australian Eric Philips are also flying with Rabea Rogge. The mission is financed by Maltese Chun Wang, who will also make the trip. Rogge will not only act as a pilot, but also as a scientific specialist. Her extensive educational background includes electrical engineering and information technology at ETH Zurich and a doctoral thesis at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

Preparation and experiment

Before the start, Rabea Rogge went through intensive preparations. These included emergency training, medical training and team dynamics exercises. Her experience as a systems engineer in the satellite project and special training sessions, such as sea kayak training in Alaska, have contributed to strengthening team spirit. During the mission she will also take part in an experiment on the hormonal balance in female bodies. She also plans to answer student questions during her stay in space and initiate a science communication project.

The launch of Rabea Rogge is not only a personal success, but is seen by many as a significant step for German space travel. A pioneer is embarking on the journey with her, because so far twelve German men have entered space, but no German woman.

Space travel has a remarkable history that dates back to the 20th century and includes key thought leaders such as Konstantin Ziolkowski, Robert Goddard and Hermann Oberth. These pioneers laid the foundation for space travel, which was decisively advanced primarily by the missions of the USA and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. From the first artificial satellites to the International Space Station (ISS), space travel has developed rapidly. Rogge's upcoming flight shows that this development continues to reach new heights.

When Rabea Rogge enters space, she will be part of a long story that shows humanity's quest to explore and understand space. This historic moment is eagerly awaited and will be made available to many via live stream.