Laura Winterling

Laura Winterling is a highly accomplished expert in spaceflight and human performance, holding a B.Sc. and two M.Sc. degrees in Physics and Behavioural & Organisational Psychology. With nearly a decade of experience at the European Space Agency (ESA), she has trained astronauts on spacecraft systems for ISS modules and authored the on-console handbook for Mission Control Europe. Laura is a licensed instructor in cargo handling, life support systems, and ISS emergency procedures, having worked across major mission control centres, including NASA’s Johnson Space Center and the Gagarin Cosmonaut Center in Moscow.

In 2016, Laura founded Space Time Concepts, where she organises human spaceflight tours and events, offering unique experiences like witnessing rocket launches and Zero-G flights. Her passion for space extends to her role as an international speaker, where she shares her insights on leadership, team performance, and decision-making with audiences around the world. Her motivational coaching and speaking engagements have seen her collaborate with global giants like SpaceX, Tesla, Siemens, and Deloitte, and she has been featured at major events such as WIRED, IMEX, and ICCA.

Laura is also a licensed rescue diver, skydiver, and helicopter pilot, holding both private and commercial licences. In her free time, she volunteers as a paramedic assistant in her hometown. Adventurous by nature, she has visited 52 countries, enjoys mountain biking, and has even made it to the top 2% of 23,000 applicants in the recent ESA astronaut selection process.