"Krone" interview

NASA expert: “Life out there is likely”

The US space agency NASA is on the lookout for young talent - and the head of the legendary Space Center in Houston, William T. Harris (pictured), has also been promoting this in Vienna.

(Bild: Kronen Zeitung)

The US space agency NASA is on the lookout for young talent - and the head of the legendary Space Center in Houston, William T. Harris, is also promoting this in Vienna. From the coming school year, there will be special "NASA courses" at six educational institutions. A contract to this effect was signed by Education Minister Martin Polaschek on Friday.

"Krone": Mr. Harris, you are the head of the Space Center in Houston. How often have you heard the phrase: "Houston, we have a problem?"? 
William T. Harris: It's a very popular phrase, but I prefer to say: "Houston, we have a solution." Because we plan carefully and make sure we come up with solutions as a team.

We are currently at the Urania in Vienna - appropriately enough, an observatory. What is so fascinating about the universe? 
 Well, people have always looked at the stars. They have always fascinated us and given us meaning in life. From navigation to determining the right time of year to grow and harvest crops. And now we can fly to the stars. That makes it very exciting for people all over the world.

A control room at the Johnson Space Center in Houston

(Bild: Science Photo Library/picturedesk.com)

Big NASA in a small country in the middle of Europe. What brings you to Austria?
Space research is global. And we are here because Austria is open to it, open to cooperation. People all over the world are fascinated by research, and NASA is one of the best-known brands because it really is about inspiration, about striving and dreaming. And about making those dreams a reality. But in a way that actually brings more value to our lives.

How would you convince a young person to take this path? 
 Whatever his or her passion is - in space exploration there is an opportunity for development. They may not become astronauts, but they can be interested in other areas because it's about being curious, thinking critically, working through adversity. Because life is not easy, especially nowadays.

The last man walked on the moon 50 years ago. Now there are new projects. Many of them fail, even though the technology is much more advanced. Why is that?
I wouldn't call it a failure. A lot has happened in the past 50 years, and there were a number of other motives. There was a Cold War, there were tensions between nations, and this has become a big driver of science and scientific learning, and the original missions were about getting to the moon, getting some samples and coming back. We are now trying to go deeper into space. The return to the moon through the Artemis program is really about preparing for trips to Mars.

"Apollo 17" commander Eugene Cernan on the moon on December 12, 1972

(Bild: NASA)

So when will humans fly to Mars?
Well, the hope is: in the next ten to 15 years. We hope to start the Artemis mission next year. Then a crew will orbit the moon and return. We are developing a completely different type of vehicle to that of the Apollo mission. Humans will go further into space than ever before. All of this will be done gradually, so that it is safe. Because the most important thing is to preserve human life. Then we will eventually look at how to utilize the lunar resources.

Given the war in Ukraine, how is cooperation with the Russians going? For example, on the ISS space station.
Still going well. Because five space agencies have come together for the International Space Station - we have to give credit to the original concept. The European ESA, NASA in the United States, the Canadian and Japanese space agencies and the Russian Roskosmos. The station was designed so that no nation can fly it alone. It requires the cooperation of all nations!

Doyou believe in extraterrestrial life?
In any case, there is no evidence that there is no life anywhere else. We discovered the elements carbon, sulphur and water - the building blocks of life - on a 4.5 billion-year-old asteroid. This is perhaps how life on Earth began. And this could have been the case across the entire galaxy. So it is very likely that we are not an anomaly.

What is your favorite space movie? 
 I have to say I love Star Wars.

You must also be a keeper of secrets. Tell us about the Area 51 myth. I think we all want to imagine that there are other kinds of complex life, but we just don't know. I think there are a lot of phenomena that we can't explain. Things happen - also in terms of research - that are just not made public.

Six schools to offer "NASA courses" from 2024/25
Space. Infinite expanses that pupils from Austria will also be able to explore in future - at least to some extent. From the coming school year, there will be special "NASA courses" at six Austrian educational institutions.

Education Minister Martin Polaschek (ÖVP)

(Bild: APA/EVA MANHART)

"We are not only giving pupils the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of space travel, but also encouraging their interest in complex scientific topics," says Education Minister Martin Polaschek (ÖVP).

With this cooperation, we are giving pupils the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of space travel.

Bildungsminister Martin Polaschek

The focus is on promoting so-called "MINT" subjects. The courses teach, for example, the nature of the moon, how spacesuits work and nutrition on the International Space Station. We are looking for pupils in grades 10 to 13. Which schools will take part is still up in the air - they will be selected in a competition in May.