than six months at the international space station at a press conference in cologne guest said he's looking forward to celebrating christmas with his family but it will then be or rest and relaxation for the man known as astro alex it will take him by around six months to complete his hand and scientific analysis yes carried out some two hundred experiments in space he also became the first german to take command of the s i s. and to talk more about astra alex and his book i have meet me the suited derek williams from a science desk welcome derek now this was astro alex the man known as esther alex a second mission into space why did e.s.a. the european space agency choose him to command the mission i think for a variety of different reasons first of all he proved very competent and the first mission and second of all he's a very charismatic person and he's fantastic at public relations he was really really good on the first mission so putting him in basically in the commander's