“Can we still dream of space?” – Galactic Chloé on the importance of space and who has a say in it

Analog space missions simulate the conditions of a crewed mission on Earth: isolation, strict procedures, real scientific experiments and a mission control center that never sleeps. Since 2021, Switzerland has had its own – Asclepios, which is run by students and was most recently located inside the Sasso San Gottardo fortress in Ticino. The tunnels in this fortress stand in for the lava tubes on the lunar surface.

Behind the idea is Chloé Carrière. The EPFL-trained aerospace engineer founded the project in 2019 and led its first mission in July 2021. Today, the missions are carried out by a new generation of students, while she supports them as a mentor. Under the name “Galactic Chloé” she has since made science communication her profession. She runs the agency Galactic Studios and had a column on the French-language Swiss radio station RTS Couleur3. She also produces documentary films and is committed to increasing the number of women in MINT fields. Among her efforts is the SATW mentoring program of Swiss TecLadies where she acts as a mentor and role model. To conclude our themed month on space, we spoke with Ms. Carrière about education, sustainability, power shifts in orbit, and the Swiss space ecosystem.

Ms. Carrière, you co-founded Asclepios in 2019 and led the first mission in July 2021. In July 2025, the fifth student-led edition spent 16 days in isolation at the Sasso San Gottardo fortress in Ticino. What was the original idea behind the project?

At the time, I was a student at EPFL, and together with friends we looked at what other universities were doing regarding human space exploration and how students could get involved. Initially, we considered using the platforms of existing analog missions, such as those of the Mars Society in the United States. However, we then came up with a more ambitious idea: What if we created our own mission? We are the generation that will go back to the moon. We are most likely the generation that will build the Moon village concept. Therefore, we should also be the ones to think about what it would look like.

Starting with a blank page, we gathered about a hundred students from all over the world. We selected our own student astronauts and decided how to train them, what values to promote, which scientific experiments to conduct, and how to simulate a lunar base. Should we be underground? The Sasso San Gottardo is a good place for this reason: its tunnels simulate the lava tubes that exist on the lunar surface. Of course, we wanted to demonstrate our capabilities, but, above all, it was an opportunity for us to learn.

So, what do students take away from such a mission that no lecture can give them?

The principle is learning by doing. At EPFL, we come from different backgrounds – materials science, physics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering – but we only truly learn when we apply our knowledge. This is why the school supports what it calls the MAKE projects, such as the rocket team or the rover team. You apply what you learn in the classroom. That is exactly what we wanted to do with Asclepios. I was interested enough in that question to devote my semester project to it: an educational analysis of how analog space missions can be used as a teaching tool at EPFL and in primary schools.

How close does such a simulation come to a real mission?

We wanted it to be as close as possible. For the astronaut selection process, for example, we worked with a therapist, and Claude Nicollier, the Swiss astronaut. We also consulted with space agencies, particularly the European Space Agency, of which Switzerland is a member, to learn how they conduct their selection processes. For the scientific aspect, we issued a call for proposals, and laboratories approached us with ideas. I collaborated with the aerospace department at MIT on a project that aimed to simulate how astronauts could remotely control a robotic mechanism drilling into the surface of the Moon or Mars. We conducted that experiment during the mission.

One aspect we don't discuss much is that there are more than just the astronauts. There is also a mission control center staffed by trained students who are connected 24/7 throughout the mission. Each student has a role similar to those at NASA or ESA. We tried to be very strict in the way we handled things. There are many analog missions worldwide, and Asclepios is one of the most realistic, in my opinion, because of the discipline and rigor of its procedures.

Under the motto “our blue spaceship” you advocate for a more sustainable approach to space. However, astrophysicist Kathrin Altwegg warns of the growing risk posed by space debris and fundamentally questions the scientific value of human spaceflight. How do you respond to this criticism?

I work on this exact question. At EPFL, we run a project called Espace Commun, in which we explore the concept of space sustainability. We discuss space debris, the environmental impact of the space industry, and the various applications of space. Sending Earth observation missions to monitor critical climate variables is certainly worthwhile. However, space tourism is difficult to justify to society. Human space exploration is also a topic of debate because we are achieving remarkable things through robotic exploration. There is a scientific return from human exploration, but it's difficult to argue that it's substantial enough compared to the infrastructure and cost.

You are about to release a documentary on this subject. What will it cover?

The documentary is called “Can We Still Dream of Space?”. It investigates the sustainable aspects of the space industry and into where we want to position ourselves. I visit the European Space Agency, the French space agency and the European Parliament to learn about the regulations we are establishing in space to prevent the types of issues that Professor Altwegg describes. This issue is particularly relevant right now because Switzerland is currently discussing a Swiss space law in Parliament.

This raises an important question: What role do citizens have in space? In Switzerland, we have a direct democracy. However, when it comes to specific subjects, such as space, the discussion does not happen publicly; it only happens in Parliament. With this project, we aim to challenge that. Space should be more accessible, and citizens should be able to express their desires regarding this resource. Our goal is to reveal the hidden infrastructure we all rely on and help people form an opinion. The campaign will run for three months. In Lausanne, we will hold a public debate in the form of a mock tribunal where the audience will judge the use of mega-constellations, such as Starlink. We are also producing videos and infographics, as well as a public questionnaire, to collect data on what people actually want.

You notably wrote your master’s thesis on the commercialization of space. How are private actors changing the balance of power and what role can Switzerland and Europe still play?

I did my master’s thesis at ESA, on commercialization and on how to boost innovation in Europe regarding Earth observation. One image captures what changed between when I started at EPFL and when I left. When I started, if you wanted to send something into space, you had to buy the rocket. It was extremely costly, and only a few actors had that capability — mostly governments. There were private companies in space, but they were big manufacturers whose clients were governments. What has changed, especially with SpaceX and the Falcon 9, is that you no longer need to buy an entire rocket every time you want to send something into space. You only buy a seat.

This opened the market to new players, including countries with smaller budgets. Last year, I made a documentary about the African Space Agency and African countries launching their own satellites. It also opened the market to private companies that can offer this infrastructure as a service, including connectivity, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Earth observation imagery. Governments are no longer the only clients. Honestly, this change was mostly driven by American companies, notably NASA, which opened new types of contracts to boost competitiveness in the industry. This helped Blue Origin and SpaceX develop their current offerings.

In Europe, we have many start-ups and established companies. In Switzerland, for example, there are APCO Technologies, Beyond Gravity, and Thales Alenia Space Switzerland. Many young companies are also emerging from EPFL and ETH Zurich, trying to find their way. The real difficulty is this: How can you be competitive and responsible at the same time? We don't want to follow in the United States' footsteps. Announcements about a million satellites in orbit are not a responsible use of space. However, if you want to be competitive, you also have to play by the rules.

You are committed to supporting women and girls in STEM, among other initiatives, through Swiss TecLadies. What are the biggest hurdles young women face today and what needs to change?

This topic is very close to my heart. There is a principle I find very powerful: When we talk about minorities, or in this case about women, there are three crucial things. Diversity, inclusiveness, and belonging. Diversity means being offered a seat at the table. Inclusiveness is having the opportunity to speak at that table. Belonging means being listened to at that table. In my experience, when we discuss women in STEM, we often focus only on diversity. We work to bring more women in, but then they don't climb the ladder. They aren't listened to, and they don't work in a safe environment. This is why retention rates are poor.

To have more women in STEM, we need to show them that they are capable — through role models and by countering stereotypes at home and in school. We also need to dispel the notion that science is difficult and inaccessible to everyone, not just women. Once you are inside the science world, though, there is real work to be done so that you feel included and actually are. This includes harassment policies and how mothers and parents in general are treated if they want to start a family. Last year, I recall a report from the Economist showing that Switzerland is one of the worst OECD countries for women to work in, largely because it is very hard to do it all once you become a mother. There is a responsibility within the field and in our societies more broadly.

I like the idea that we are all allies. This isn't only about women. Men need to understand that it's in all of our best interests. This isn't a fight between groups — we should all support each other.

You once said that your dream was to set foot on the moon yourself. Is that still true?

When I was studying at EPFL, I dreamed of being an astronaut and walking on the moon one day. Five years ago, I had an accident. A bottle of champagne fell out of the fridge, exploded, and cut my eye. I lost part of my eyesight. To be a professional astronaut, you need 100 percent of your eyesight. It can be corrected with glasses or contacts, but in my case, it's a traumatic injury, so it can't be corrected. I had to let go of that dream.

Whether that dream is still relevant is a good question. What attracted me to the space sector were exploration, contributing to science, and pushing the boundaries of what is possible. I feel that I am doing that very well on Earth now. I also understand how the space industry and space agencies operate. So, the experience of space exploration remains a dream of mine, but it's no longer a life goal. I don't feel like I lost a dream; I just found myself in new ways.

How would you describe the Swiss space ecosystem today, and what kind of future do you envision for it?

I think there is a strong space community in Switzerland — it's just hidden. There are many companies and student projects between EPFL and ETH Zurich. ETH Zurich has a master's program, and EPFL has a minor. There are also many spin-offs going into space. More money is also coming from the defense sector, which is less pleasant, but it shows that space is being recognized as critical infrastructure. It is really something that is developing.

My main concern is how to ensure that this industry stays here and does not move out. Space is deep tech. It requires a lot of funding, and it takes years to generate revenue. The question for the country is whether we have what it takes to nurture that industry here. When I started at EPFL, companies were emerging. Today, there seems to be a certain turnover among smaller startups, while the big, established players remain. How do we ensure that small companies can grow into large ones? I think that is the real challenge.

Switzerland in space

Space is closer than it seems – and Switzerland plays an important role in this. During the SATW’s ‘Space: Switzerland as a space-faring nation’ theme month, you’ll find more stories, developments and perspectives on research, technology and space exploration from Switzerland.

Discover the ‘Space’ theme month