Leipzig, 11.09.2026, Ralf Heckel

This week was all about space travel. It began on Monday, September 7, 2026 at Delphi-Lux Filmpalast with a Bertelsmann Stiftung panel on the topic of „Space-Politics 2.0“. The moderator was the Director of Transatlantic Relations at the Bertlesmann Foundation North America, Mr. Anthony Silberfeld. On the panel: Cosma Heckel (19, ISEI, aspiring astronaut), NASA astronaut Heidemarie Stephanyshyn-Piper and ESA astronaut Dr. Gerhard Thiele. After a film, a 90-minute discussion began at 5 p.m. in front of about 60 visitors. Our member and long-time Moonbuggy designer and pilot was able to assert herself in English with astuteness and verbosity. More at video.

On Friday, September 11, 2026, the same NASA astronaut became the first US astronaut ever to visit the trade fair city of Leipzig. She has now had an eventful week through the Lang and visited Berlin, Speyer, Kaiserslautern and Hohenkammer Castle.

After a short flyby at the birthplace of the Leipzig-born NASA scientist Prof. Dr. Jesco von Puttkamer in Salomonstraße, she reached the campus of the same name shortly before 2 p.m. The children cheerfully welcomed the 63-year-old surprised astronaut with a self-painted "Welcome to MARS" banner and shook her hands enthusiastically. Parents, members, employees of the U.S. Embassy Berlin and the U.S. Consulate General in Leipzig as well as the media watched delightedly.

Then it went to the Seminar room of the Space Hotels for a  warm-up. The founder and chairman of the International Space Education Institute (ISEI), Ralf Heckel, spoke a few words about the now 21-year history of international bridge building for young people through the world. The astronaut in the middle then answered the curious questions of the 15 children aged 6-12 years. It was about training, weightlessness and food. There was a piece of astronaut ice cream for everyone to try. "Heidi" even answered some questions in German and Ukrainian. She has the same roots through her parents.

At 2:46 p.m. a minute of silence was observed for the victims of 9/11/2001 in New York. This is the 25th anniversary. A few words about this from the head of the institute and the astronaut affected parents and children. Some have similar experiences with war and displacement in Ukraine and Eritrea. There should be some tears.


To loosen things up, there was a surprise. 20 years ago, the students of our institute already met Heidi, at that time in the middle of training for her first mission STS-115. 2 photos from the NBL in Houston (water tank for training) were presented to the surprised astronaut, who promptly said: „Ja das bin ich!“ She didn't notice anything at the time because our group of students was standing behind a pane of glass. Today, this Leipzig generation has become pilots, scientists and physicists and they work between Canada and New Zealand.

Around 3:20 p.m. we went outside. Heidemarie is the first female solar installer in space, docked with the ISS exactly 20 years ago today and installed the 2nd large solar system with the trusses P3 and P4 there with her colleagues. 2 years ago, our ISS campus built a functional monument on the south façade, a similar-looking solar system. This reaches 17 meters high and is still 4 times smaller than just one of 4 double modules on the ISS. Heidi did not miss the opportunity to sign one of the lower solar modules.

On campus, the students then presented their work from the 2026 summer camp. They invited people to ride the Moonbuggys of our 20-year history of the NASA Rover Challenge. 12-year-old Jesco offered an excursion with the Cyberbug 

(a small electric Cybertruck) he designed and built. He designed 60 parts for this on the Solid Works engineering program and printed them hundreds of times. The vehicle was assembled in the team in 2 years of painstaking work. The astronaut and also the US envoys were amazed by the excellent talent of the now 10-12-year-old.

This was followed by a fotosession with each visitor and the astronaut next to the largest horizontal sundial in Europe, whose hand is a rocket. These pictures were then developed immediately and could be personally signed by Heidi before departure.


At 4:20 p.m., after a short tour of the Polytechnic and the workshops, the astronaut's long-awaited astronaut´s long-awaited lecture der Astronautin in the newla furnished Hall 4. An aluminum truss was set up. This now hovers above the heads of the approximately 50 spectators and carries solar modules, lamps and a projector. A space shuttle floats in from above with the cargo bay open. This is the original backdrop from the WDR studio in Cologne in the 1980s, under which the space journalist Günther Siefarth already moderated. The presentation was projected at the front of the white wall, lined with 2 man-high, detailed models of the new Artemis and Starship moon rockets including their launch towers on a scale of 1:96.

Heidi started her lecture under this impression of her homeland and talked about her school, training as a combat diver in the Navy, training as an astronaut and her missions. The space shuttle took off impressively with loudspeaker thunder on the screen. For 30 minutes, the audience was captivated by the successes and small mishaps such as the tool bag flying away during the assembly of the solar modules. But this is exactly where it became clear that the ability to improvise is important. Mission accomplished.

At 4:55 p.m. Edward Cox (Acting Public Engagement Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Berlin) started his speech. His impressive words reflects the 20-year efforts of the ISEI in the context of international goals and can be viewed here.

At 5 p.m., the official award-ceremony. The students of the 2026 summer camp and the 1st International Rover Challenge will be personally honored by the astronaut. The winners are:

Place 1 „Range-Test“ Cyberbug Pilot Jesco Heckel 12 and Team Micronauts
Place 1 „Range-Test“ Moonbuggy Pilotin Cosma Heckel (19) with Ela (18)
Place 1 „Speed-Test“ Moonbuggy Pilot Leonardo Unverricht (12)
Place 2 „Speed-Test“ Moonbuggy Pilot Michael Schneidereit (10)
Place 1 „Obstacle-Test“ Moonbuggy Jesco Heckel and Leonardo Unverricht

The Team Bellatrix from Istanbul could not be present, but we would like to send them all our warmest greetings.

There was also a surprise for the astronaut Heidi. For today's 20th anniversary of the docking manoeuvre with the ISS, the student Cosma (12) and member and 3D printing instructor Kathrin Studt (47) have come up with something special. The 12-year-old Jesco presented her with a self-developed 3D model of the STS-115 mission logo, which was elaborately produced in multi-color printing (only the printing alone took 24 hours). The young engineer Jesco visibly enjoyed the surprised astronaut and was very proud. This moment was also very special for the deaf Kathrin Studt (a gifted model maker, CNC machine operator and volunteer instructor with us).

At 5:10 p.m. we finally signed autographs again at the Space Hotel. The US Embassy had already prepared a pile. Everyone was hot for it. In addition, there were the photos of the campus that had just been photographed and signed. Some members also had books and first-day letters with them.

Around 5 p.m. it was time to say Goodbye. 

There was a bouquet of flowers and heartfelt handshakes. The students didn't want to let them go. Then the ICE was waiting. In the Tesla we went to the main train station. Heidi said "That was an extraordinary meeting" and remarked in amazement: "I also drive a Tesla" before she disappeared into the hustle and bustle of the largest terminal station in Europe. Tomorrow she flies back home, to Minnesota.

After Sigmund Jähn (Intercosmos) and Nikolai Budarin (Roscosmos), this was the third person from space in the trade fair city of Leipzig and the first US astronaut from NASA. We are glad that Heidi was able to impress our stronger teammates, the girls, with her appearance.

5 NASA engineers come from Leipzig who were instrumental in the moon landing, the Apollo-Soyuz test project, the construction of the space shuttles and the construction of the ISS. Today, the latest generation showed that they are following in these footsteps and have exceptional competencies in aerospace engineering.

VMany thanks to the support for this extraordinary day by the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, the U.S. Consulate General in Leipzig and its Youth Council, as well as all members who were involved in this day. Thanks also go to the media of Leipzig, who reflected this event with dignity despite many contrasting events of this day. Today there were friends, just as we have known the USA as a friend and partner for many years.

photogallery on Flickr

Videos on Youtube