Namibia is preparing to look skyward as European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Dr Matthias Maurer brings the excitement of space exploration to the country, with Swakopmund set to be one of the key stops on his 1–10 October visit.
Maurer met with the Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture, Dr Sanet Steenkamp, in Windhoek ahead of Namibia’s World Space Week programme, which runs from 5 to 10 October under the 2026 theme “Rocket Revolution.” The visit is being coordinated by the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) in collaboration with the Ministry and the German Embassy in Namibia.
ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer brings the space race closer to 8 000 Namibian learners.
Maurer is expected to engage with approximately 8 000 school learners in Windhoek, Oshakati, Ongwediva and Swakopmund, using his own experience in space to encourage young Namibians to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
For the coast, the visit will have a strong scientific focus. Maurer is scheduled to be in Swakopmund on 8 October, with a public engagement planned at The Dome at 9:30. He will also visit the China Telemetry, Tracking and Command Station in Swakopmund as part of his programme in Namibia. His wider scientific tour includes the Gobabeb Desert Research Station, the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) observatory, the Africa Millimetre Telescope currently under construction and the International Amateur Observatory in the Gamsberg area.
Maurer, a material scientist who became an ESA astronaut in 2015, spent 177 days aboard the International Space Station during the 2021/22 SpaceX Crew-3 mission. He is also preparing for NASA’s Artemis programme, with a lunar mission currently planned for 2028. Speaking about his visit, Maurer said he was looking forward to sharing his passion for space with Namibia’s youth. “I believe all the young people, no matter what culture, what country, what language they are from, space is what unites us.”
Maurer has described Earth as an “oasis” seen from orbit and stressed the importance of protecting the planet. He also believes Africa should play a growing role in the global space sector, particularly as satellite technology becomes increasingly important for navigation, telecommunications and Earth observation.
The meeting with Minister Steenkamp also explored opportunities for structured exchanges between Namibian researchers and German and European institutions, including exposure to ESA laboratories, international research facilities and global space networks. The visit is therefore about more than an astronaut’s appearance. It is part of a broader push to expose young people to global science, strengthen research partnerships and demonstrate that space technology can create opportunities even for countries still developing their space capabilities.
And on 8 October, Swakopmund gets its chance to look beyond the desert and into space.
By Rudi Bowe
