What’s it like to interview an astronaut? EJR-Quartz’s Laura Zurmühlen, Editor for the European Space Agency (ESA) Human and Robotic Exploration Programme, can tell you all about it! She recently had one-on-one chats with the ESA astronaut class for the ESA Explores podcast. Read on to find out what it’s like and discover Laura’s top interview tips.
What steps did you take to prepare for the interviews?
For astronaut interviews, I usually started by doing quite a bit of research on the person. I read their biography, look at their previous missions or training, and often check out their social media posts as well. That helped me get a feeling for who they are.
I did something similar for other experts. First I would learn about their role and what they actually do, then start drafting questions. Sometimes I had a chance to speak with them beforehand, which was really helpful because it gave me new ideas and interesting angles to explore. I usually structured the questions from broad and accessible topics to more specific ones, sometimes bringing in details I’d discovered through my research or previous conversations.
There was also quite a bit of organisation involved. First you have to reach out to the interviewee and see if they’re interested. Then it’s about finding a suitable location, coordinating schedules, and making sure the camera and audio support are available.
What was the goal behind your line of questioning?
My goal was always to introduce the interviewee to people who might never have heard of them or their job before.
I wanted the conversations to feel natural and relaxed, while still being informative and professional. I tried to create opportunities for people to tell their own stories and my role was really to guide the conversation and encourage them to talk about their experiences, challenges and motivations.
I wanted people to feel as if they were sitting at the table with us. Especially when talking to astronauts, it was important to me to show the human side behind these incredible careers and let listeners connect with them on a personal level.
What did you learn personally from speaking to the astronauts?
One message came up repeatedly in these conversations: never give up on your dreams. Many astronauts told me that they never expected to end up where they are today and that success often comes from continuously following your interests and taking small steps toward your goals.
They also highlighted the importance of resilience. If one opportunity does not work out, it does not necessarily mean the journey is over, you simply need to find another path forward. At the same time, they highlighted the importance of enjoying the process. Becoming an astronaut is incredibly demanding, but they all emphasised the importance of teamwork, friendship and having fun along the way.
What were some challenges you faced in the editing process?
There was definitely a steep learning curve. A lot of what I know about audio and video production I learned on the job, either by teaching myself or by learning from more experienced colleagues.
One challenge was dealing with technical issues. Sometimes the audio wasn’t perfect because of background noise or humming, and figuring out how to improve it could be quite challenging. But it’s also incredibly satisfying when you find a solution and make it work.
On a more personal level, seeing and hearing myself in recordings felt a bit awkward at first. I think that’s something many people experience, but after a while you get used to it and become much more comfortable.
What did you find most rewarding about conducting the work?
For me, it’s really the people. Of course I enjoy learning about the technologies, operations and science behind a mission, but what I love most is seeing people’s faces light up when they talk about something they’re genuinely passionate about.
Those moments of excitement, curiosity and pride are contagious. You can really feel how much they care about their work, and being able to capture that and share it with others is incredibly rewarding.
Curious to see Laura’s interviewing in action? Watch the recordings in full here.