Analog Astronaut & Mission Simulant

If you want to know what a lunar mission feels like, a trip to the Swiss Alps is a good place to start. There, high up in the Sasso San Gottardo fortress, lies a tunnel system that topologically resembles the Moon. It is precisely at this location that 10 students from around the world—selected from among thousands of applicants—spend two weeks in complete isolation. What unites the participants is a shared ambition to pursue a future in spaceflight. The “Asclepios” mission is designed to give them a sense of what might lie ahead. One of them is Ludwig Sapper. The master’s student in aerospace engineering at the Technical University of Munich is also an Ironman finisher, a rocket developer, a dedicated Ansys user, and a likable, thoughtful young man.

During their two weeks in the fortress, the group of “analog astronauts” is completely on its own while participating in a multifaceted simulation. The simulation involves extreme conditions: no contact with the outside world, limited space, and no privacy—but the other participants, with their diverse backgrounds and personalities, are always nearby. Ultimately, it’s about psychology, tolerance, and absolute mutual trust—or, as Ludwig Sapper puts it:

Why would anyone put themselves through this? The answer lies in a passion for space exploration. To achieve the goal of becoming an “astronaut,” in addition to good grades in relevant fields, experiences such as Asclepios and a range of extracurricular activities are essential. Ludwig Sapper received this advice from someone who should know: Professor Dr. Ulrich Walter, himself a former astronaut and, until 2025, holder of the Chair of Astrodynamics at TUM.

Ludwig Sapper on his way to the 2024 Spaceport America Cup (SAC) in the New Mexico desert. | © WARR

Student Rocket Scientist on the WARR Team

WARR (the acronym stands for “Wissenschaftliche Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Raketentechnik und Raumfahrt“, which translates to “Scientific Working Group for Rocket Technology and Spaceflight”) is the largest student group at TUM. Active since 1962, it has more than 650 members today work on challenging projects related to space. Ludwig Sapper worked in many different areas at WARR, eventually heading up rocket development. During his studies at TUM, he became familiar with FEM, Ansys, and CADFEM, and at WARR he was able to apply his simulation skills in a practical setting: this included the development of particularly lightweight Type 5 tanks made of carbon fiber, as well as a self-initiated project on solid-fuel rockets, in which the TUM 2024 team was the only one out of 150 competitors to successfully launch a two-stage rocket in the U.S.

WARR and Ludwig Sapper at the CADFEM Conference in Darmstadt, Germany

WARR is a student team sponsored by CADFEM Academic that works extensively with Ansys and will present its latest developments hands-on at the CADFEM World Conference in Darmstadt. Ludwig will also be there in person and available at the WARR booth to answer questions about the rocket's development and simulation. He will also give a presentation on astronaut training and the Asclepios project—even though he had to cancel his own participation at the last minute, with a heavy heart. The reason is other commitments, just as his grandmother pointed out from the start.

Watch now the interview with Ludwig Sapper (GER):