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Académie suisse des sciences techniques SATW
‘Life on other planets is of equal value’ – Kathrin Altwegg on the risks, opportunities and limitations of space travel
Astrophysicist Kathrin Altwegg has analysed the chemical composition of a comet using the ROSINA mass spectrometer in Bern and discovered the building blocks of life. In the SRF summer series ‘25 Years of Tagesgespräch’, she caused a stir in July 2026 with her pointed remarks: She questions the scientific value of manned spaceflight, warns of deadly space debris from 2032 onwards, and is convinced that the likelihood of life in space is high. For her, life on Earth and extraterrestrial life are of equal value. In an interview with the SATW, the professor emerita sets out her theories and explains the significance artificial intelligence will have for space research in the future.



