ESA-præsentation af astronaut Andreas Enevold Mogensen

I would like to welcome you all to this press conference at the beautiful surroundings of the Planetarium in Copenhagen. As we have several international guests, I would like to conduct the press conference in English.

First of all, a very special welcome goes to the guest of honour – the new ESA astronaut Andreas Enevold Mogensen. A warm welcome also goes to our international guests: The Director General of the European Space Agency, Jean-Jacques Dordain. Next to him the Director for Human Spaceflight at ESA, Simonetta di Pippo.

From Denmark we have Eigil Friis-Christensen, the Director of the Space Institute at the Technical University of Denmark and chairman of the Danish astronaut selection board. Thank you all for coming here today. It is indeed a special occasion which brings us together.

The importance of a Danish astronaut

Today we are writing history because we can present the first astronaut of Danish nationality. Andreas Mogensen was selected ESA astronaut and presented to the European press at ESA's Headquarter in Paris two weeks ago.

It has been a long journey for Andreas Mogensen, who applied to ESA's astronaut selection in June 2008. He was one of the few to pass a long line of difficult tests. And it has been an even longer journey for Denmark, which now has come to an end.

As Danish Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation I started the search for a Danish astronaut back in 2004. One of my main goals was to inspire and raise the interest for natural and technical sciences among young people.

Astronauts are living symbols of man's scientific and technological achievements, and they help us explore the unknown as mankind has always done. Moreover I believe that human beings – children as well as adults – need idols to inspire and feed our curiosity for new discoveries.

Having started the Danish search for an astronaut, I feel very lucky that I can welcome the first astronaut with Danish nationality. There is no doubt that Andreas Mogensen's space research qualifications, his merits and personality make him the ideal astronaut.

Andreas Mogensen is now the second Scandinavian astronaut. I understand that the Swedish ESA astronaut Christer Fuglesang already on the day after Andreas Mogensen's nomination called to congratulate his new colleague.

I am very thankful to ESA and especially to Jean-Jacques Dordain, who welcomed the Danish astronaut campaign and planned the selection process which ensured the identification of Andreas Mogensen among more than 8,000 applicants.

At ESA he will continue his international carrier, but at the same time will be an ambassador for Danish, European and international space science and technology. My hope is to see Andreas Mogensen as often as possible here in Denmark. He will be an inspiration to students and young people for many years to come.

The Danish priority of ESA programmes

Denmark has for many years given high priority to ESA's programmes for human spaceflight, and I am happy to say that both universities and industry in Denmark has benefitted from this investment.

At the last ESA conference at ministerial level in November 2008, the Danish government raised the contribution to ESA with 8 Million Euro in 2009 and 10 Million Euro in 2010. It is my ambition that the Danish contribution to ESA stays at this increased level in the years to come.

I will now pass the floor to the Director General of ESA Jean-Jacques Dordain, to Simonetta di Pippo, to Andreas Mogensen, and finally to Eigil Friis-Christensen to reflect upon, how a Danish ESA astronaut can add value to Danish space activities. And afterwards the floor will be open for questions.