Britain’s Astronaut Rosemary Coogan Doesn’t Share Elon Musk’s Enthusiasm On Space Colonies

Rosemary Coogan, the UK’s newest astronaut with the European Space Agency (ESA), believes the future of space exploration shouldn’t be reserved for an elite few. Speaking about her hopes for inclusivity in space travel, the 33-year-old Belfast-born scientist said she envisions a future where journeys to other planets are accessible to more people.

“I certainly don’t think space travel, or space generally, should be for the elites,” Coogan said. “I’m sure there are plenty of people out there who would love to visit another planet.”

A Revolutionary Era in Space Exploration

Selected from over 22,500 applicants, Coogan has quickly risen through ESA’s ranks. She completed her astronaut training earlier this year and is preparing for a six-month mission to the International Space Station (ISS) before its planned decommissioning in 2030.

Rosemary Coogan also has her sights set on humanity’s next great milestones. With NASA’s Artemis programme aiming to return humans to the Moon by 2026 and prepare for future Mars missions, ESA has secured three crewed seats on Artemis missions. Coogan, ready to take on such a mission, said: “I’d love to go to the Moon. Every astronaut’s goal is to contribute to exploration as much as possible.”

Rosemary Coogan’s Perspective on Mars Colonisation

Coogan, however, doesn’t share Elon Musk’s bold vision of permanent human settlements on Mars. “It’s a personal opinion, but I don’t envisage a future where we have permanent colonies,” she said. Instead, Coogan views planetary exploration as a way to deepen our understanding of Earth and its place in the universe.

“What we learn from the Moon and from Mars, we can bring back to this planet,” she explained. “We need to look after planet Earth. Visiting other planets will actually help us do that.”

The Challenges of the ISS

As the ISS nears the end of its operational life, it has faced challenges, including air leaks and technical issues with spacecraft. Rosemary Coogan, however, remains unfazed by the risks.

“[ESA] select people to be particularly calm under pressure, to not panic in extraordinary situations,” she said. “We embrace taking on the situation as it comes.”

For Coogan, space is not just an opportunity to explore but a chance to contribute to humanity’s understanding of life and the cosmos.