Honestly? I haven’t felt this alert in a long time.
Sixty-nine days until I can reestablish contact with Ground Control.
Sounds like a lot. But it doesn’t feel like waiting. More like: preparation time.
I’m not even sure what exactly happened. Suddenly, contact with the space base was cut off.
Only one final message came through on my comms system: 69 Days. Hamburg calls.
That should be enough time… but yeah, where do I even begin?

The Astra Project. Finally heading out into deep space. Infinite distances.
The year is 2025, and the Astra rocket was supposed to complete its final test flight,
yes, with me on board, to explore new worlds, discover new life and new civilizations.
The mission was meant to reach parts of space no one had ever seen before.
But then: red lights everywhere. Sirens. Systems maxed out. The alarm was going off.
I have encountered an anomaly! The Astra was suffering a major energy failure.
I'm sure the whole rocket glowed brightly red.
I think I reacted the right way in that moment. Maybe not perfectly, but right.
I followed the manual, step by step.
I mean, sure: I’m a system test astronaut, not a rocket engineer.

My job is to apply sealing tape with precision and not to bypass a central control computer.
But I know the manual. I know this ship. And I improvised where I had to. So I acted.
Reversed the polarity of the neutron flow, step by step. Just like in training.
Since then, life support has been running. And the comms system.
The rest? Silence. And space. A lot of space.

So yeah. Here I am. Waiting for Sol 69. On my own. Alone, but not helpless.
Me, inside of a rocket – an otter. Space outside. So much space. And stars and solar dust...
Back to the beginning. Hamburg. Ground Control.
I can still send short messages. The system is stable. I’ll tell them what I’ve seen out here: strange planets, colorful nebulas, shimmering rings made of space rock, dancing asteroid fields… and so much more.
Yes, I’ll document everything.
No matter how fantastic, surreal or scientific it sounds. It should, no, it has to, be seen on Earth. I hope they find artists, animators, and storytellers of all kinds who can bring it to life. The mysteries and the endless sense of wonder that comes with exploring space.
I can’t wait to see what they come up with. The results will reach me in early September.

📐 Format: 10:1 aspect ratio (3840 x 384 pixels)

⏱️ Length: Maximum 20 seconds

💾 File type: .mp4

🔈 Audio: No audio playback available

📝 Third party materials shall only be used if under License: CC-BY-SA 4.0

🏆 Why participate?
Selected entries will be showcased in a spectacular ultra-wide format on a panoramic screen at the entrance of the CCH, Hamburg– giving your work the cinematic stage it deserves. It’s a chance to inspire, to awe, and to be part of a collective voyage into the unknown.

🎯 Theme: Space Expedition – Outer Space Adventures

✨ Your video could feature:

• A crewed mission to a newly discovered exoplanet
• A lone astronaut navigating the silence of deep space
• A high-speed chase through a meteor storm
• First contact with alien life
• A poetic journey through the cosmos

… or a surprise appearance by Greeny, our adventurous mascot, joining the expedition as a pilot, explorer, or unexpected alien ally!

You decide what the ground station gets to see.