Walk of Space

He was smart, stubborn, impatient and the first Dutchman in space: Wubbo studied physics and mathematics in Groningen. In 1978, he was selected as one of the first three ESA astronauts. In October 1985, he flew to space aboard the space shuttle Challenger. His mission: to conduct seventy different scientific experiments while floating in the European space laboratory Spacelab. While doing so, he wore woolly socks and shorts. Once Wubbo had seen our planet from space, he wanted to protect ‘spaceship earth’. That is why he became a professor of sustainability at Delft University of Technology. Did you know this about Wubbo? Besides being an astronaut, physicist, and pilot, Wubbo was also an inventor. He invented the Superbus and the ladder mill, which can generate wind energy high in the sky. From 1987 to 1989, he presented the TV programme Kijk-TV on science and technology. Wubbo escaped death several times. He survived a plane crash and a heart attack. And maybe even a space accident. Because four months after his flight, the space shuttle Challenger exploded during launch. Together with students, Wubbo developed the solar car Nuna, which won the Australian World Solar Challenge several times. He did not like NASA's sleeping bag. So, he designed his own. This special space sleeping bag is on display at Space Expo in Noordwijk. With his large moustache, he was always easy to spot in photos. Together with his wife Joos, he developed the climate-neutral boat Ecolution, on which they lived together. Wubbo is still floating around, as he now has an asteroid named after him: 9496 Ockels. It orbits between Mars and Jupiter.

André Kuipers is the first Dutchman to travel to space twice. Aboard the ISS, he was a maintenance engineer, cleaner, photographer, teacher and, of course, scientist. André trained as a doctor, but he often jokes that you really don’t want to consult him. Soon after his medical training, he began working in space—first supporting the missions of other astronauts, and later on his own: mission DELTA in 2004 and the PromISSe mission in 2011-2012 The entire Netherlands rallied behind André in space. People of all ages watched as he conducted scientific experiments, even teaming up with hundreds of thousands of school children. He also wore an orange T-shirt in celebration of Queen's Day, and through it all, he never stopped smiling. André continues to be a prominent voice on space travel, sharing his passion on TV, in theaters, and through lectures across the country. He’s also a strong advocate for inspiring young people to pursue science and technology, believing that a sustainable future depends on the brightest minds coming together to find innovative solutions for our planet. Did you know this about André? He lived and worked for more than two hundred days aboard the space station ISS. In 2011, he opened the radio show Top2000 from space. During his second space mission, André docked SpaceX's first-ever, commercial cargo ship Dragon. A first in space travel André took old cheese, syrup waffles, and liquorice with him to the space station for his colleagues to enjoy. While the cheese and waffles were well received, the liquorice wasn't popular at all In space, André preferred to float in front of the large Cupola space window. His favourite view? The Bahamas, the Australian outback, and the Netherlands in the sunshine. During his missions, André performed more than a hundred different scientific experiments. He flew to space twice on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. One of these can be seen at Space Expo in Noordwijk. André grew up in Amsterdam. As a child, he read science fiction books. This is how he became fascinated by space travel. His most important advice to young people is: if you dream of something, go for it! Don't get discouraged and always have a good plan B for when you don't succeed.

Who was the very first astronaut born in the Netherlands? No, it wasn’t Wubbo Ockels or André Kuipers—it was Lodewijk van den Berg. Born in Sluiskil, Zeeland, in 1932, Lodewijk studied chemical engineering in Delft and quickly became an expert in crystal growth When Lodewijk asked NASA if crystals could be grown in space, they gave him the chance to find out—by doing it himself aboard a space shuttle. However, first he had to move to America and become a U.S. citizen. On April 29, 1985, Lodewijk was launched aboard the space shuttle Challenger (STS-51B) for the first flight of the European space laboratory, Spacelab. Over the course of seven days, he completed 110 orbits of Earth, traveling more than 4.6 million kilometers Did you know this about Lodewijk ? NASA asked Louis to nominate eight crystal experts who could fly to space as astronauts. He only knew seven and put himself eighth on the list. During the applications, he turned out to be the best candidate. That is how he became an astronaut. A secondary school in Terneuzen is named after him: the Lodewijk College. He was 53 years old when he flew his space mission. This made him one of the oldest rookies NASA has ever had. In space, he did experiments with crystals. Because in weightless conditions, you can grow crystals ten times purer than on Earth. He continued to make crystals all his life, something he often compared to gardening in interviews. After his flight, Lodewijk travelled to the Netherlands every two years to visit friends and family. Lodewijk died in 2022 at the age of 90. But he is forever floating around in space as asteroid 11430 Lodewijkberg.

Ed Mitchell walked on the moon in 1971. He described it as feeling like walking through loose sand on a beach—but in a big, stiff suit, and with a helmet that limited his view. Mitchell flew to the moon aboard Apollo 14. While Stuart Roosa remained in the command module, he and Al Shepard descended to the lunar surface. They completed two moonwalks, collecting over 42 kilos of moon rocks. After his mission, Ed became a frequent figure on television, seeking to bridge the gap between science and spirituality. He made several striking statements, including his belief that Earth had been visited by extra-terrestrial life. Ed Mitchell passed away in 2016 at the age of 85. Did you know this about Ed? As a teenager, he suffered from hay fever. Therefore, he decided not to take over his family's farm and instead pursued an engineering degree. Before Ed was chosen as an astronaut in 1966, he was a fighter pilot in the US Navy. He was supposed to fly the Apollo 13 mission, but due to ear problems with his colleague Alan Shepard, he ended up on Apollo 14. Together with his colleague Shepard, Ed walked 1.4 kilometres across the moon. That is still the longest distance covered on foot there. Ed Mitchell founded an institute dedicated to researching noetic science—the idea that thoughts and beliefs can influence the physical world. He received a special award from US President Richard Nixon: the Medal of Freedom. The Apollo 11 and 12 moon landings could only be seen in black and white. Ed took a colour camera to space for the first time.

If anyone knows how to fly, it’s Frank De Winne. As a soldier, he piloted fighter jets like the Mirage, F-16, and Tornado. But in 2002, he aimed even higher boarding a Soyuz spacecraft for a mission to the ISS. In 2009, Frank returned to space for a longer mission, conducting scientific experiments and operating the Japanese robotic arm. That same year, he made history as the first non-American or non-Russian to command the ISS. And if you think he retired after that, think again. Frank has since supported several space missions involving other European astronauts and continues his work as director of the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne. Did you know this about Frank? He received several awards, including the Order of Orange-Nassau and honorary citizenship of Sint-Truiden. In 1993, he suffered a breakdown in the air with his F-16 fighter plane. Fortunately, he was able to get himself to safety by using the ejection seat. Frank was born in Ghent. In 2002, he became the second Belgian astronaut, after Dirk Frimout. While he was in space, the ISS was visited by the space shuttle Endeavour. At that time, thirteen people were aboard the space station, a record. - In space, water conservation is essential—and Frank believes it should be on Earth too. That's why he became a UNICEF ambassador, focusing on raising awareness about global water issues. - He could not get enough of floating. That is why Frank often made parabolic flights after his space flights. This involved gliding aboard a plane. Frank couldn’t get enough of floating in zero gravity, so after his space missions, he frequently participated in parabolic flights. These flights simulate weightlessness by gliding aboard a specially designed aircraft.

Paolo Nespoli is the jack-of-all-trades in the European astronaut corps. He’s mastered flying, diving, parachuting, and more. Trained as an engineer, he served as a parachute instructor in the Italian army before becoming an astronaut. Paolo flew to space three times. In 2007, aboard the space shuttle Discovery, he delivered a brand-new module to the ISS. He returned twice more on the Russian Soyuz capsule. His missions were packed with highlights. Paolo docked cargo ships like the European ATV and Japanese HTV to the ISS, filmed several documentaries, and captured a legendary photo of the ISS with a space shuttle attached while departing on his Soyuz. Did you know this about Paolo? - He is a fan of Italian football club Inter Milan. - His hobbies include scuba diving, flying, photography and computers. - Paolo filmed segments for the documentary First Orbit, aiming to recreate, as accurately as possible, the view that Yuri Gagarin—the first astronaut—experienced during his historic journey into space - He worked with students on Earth. They were allowed to programme a Raspberry Pi computer that was on board the space station. - Paolo was the first astronaut to contribute to the online encyclopaedia Wikipedia from space. - In total, he was in space for 313 days, 2 hours and 36 minutes.

Astronaut Alexander Gerst is always up for an adventure. He’s searched for meteorites at the South Pole, survived a week underground in Italian caves, and completed two long missions to space. During those missions, his schedule was packed with operational tasks. He performed a spacewalk with NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman and docked three different cargo ships: ATV, Dragon, and Cygnus. With a background as a geophysicist and a PhD focused on the Erebus volcano in Antarctica, Alexander’s curiosity extends beyond Earth. He is now actively involved in preparing for future crewed missions to the moon. Did you know this about Alexander? - Even during high school, he volunteered with the scouts and the fire brigade. - His PhD research was published in the famous journal Science and led to better prediction of volcanic eruptions. - In 2019, he participated in ESA's CAVES mission. This involves astronauts working together in caves underground, where they mimic a space mission. - Alexander was the second European commander of the International Space Station ISS after Frank De Winne. And, at 42 years old at the time, also the youngest. - He brought a robot called CIMON into space. That uses artificial intelligence and helps astronauts work in the Columbus space lab. - From space, Alexander rocked out to a concert by German band Kraftwerk in 2018. He played synthesiser during the song ‘Spacelab’. - When he is not in space, you can find Alexander in action. His hobbies? Mountain hiking, diving, climbing, skydiving and cycling.

What a multi-talent... French Claudie Haigneré was successively a rheumatologist, neuroscientist, astronaut, secretary of state and minister. Born Claudie André-Deshays, she married Jean-Pierre Haigneré, who was also an astronaut. Claudie was the first Frenchwoman to go to space. She flew space missions to the Russian space station Mir (1996) and to the International Space Station ISS (2001). In space, she conducted dozens of experiments, including on the human body in weightless conditions. After her space missions, Claudie remained involved in space and science. She was founder of the science museum Palais de la Découverte (Palace of Discoveries) in Paris. And she is still thinking about the space missions of the future. Did you know this about Claudie? - Claudie loved studying. She studied medicine, specialising in rheumatology. She then went on to earn a PhD in neuroscience. - In October 1992, she trained as a backup for the French-Russian space mission Altair. She was then backup for her future husband: Jean-Pierre. - In her spare time, she enjoys painting and sculpting, reading, gymnastics and golf. - In 1985, ten thousand French people applied to become astronauts. Seven people were selected, including Claudie. She was the only woman. - Claudie did not just float around in space. She also did so aboard a plane for training and scientific experiments. - Streets have been named after her in five different French villages.

Dirk Frimout worked in space before he became an astronaut. At ESA, he was responsible for scientific experiments with rockets, parabolic flights, and Spacelab missions. In 1992, he was allowed to go into space himself. He flew with the space shuttle Atlantis (STS-45). During that space flight, he was responsible for the experiments, four of which came from Belgium. He conducted research on the Earth's atmosphere, the ozone layer and UV radiation from the sun. Back in Belgium, Dirk was instantly super-famous. He got a big parade, complete with a shower of confetti. Yet he remained ‘just’ Dirk. He went to work for a telecoms company and encouraged young people to choose scientific or technical studies through the Euro Space Foundation. Did you know this about Dirk? - The best moment of his space mission Dirk experienced just after launch, when the space shuttle's engines went out and he floated for the first time. ‘Euphoric’, he called that feeling. - He was called in space by Prince Philip of Belgium. The latter then said: ‘Dirk, you can call me Filip, because I think there is absolutely no protocol in space.’ - He wrote more than 30 scientific papers on the atmosphere, training methods for Spacelab and experiments in microgravity. - In the Suske and Wiske album The Dying Star, Dirk is an old friend of Professor Barabas. Together they help the space creature Klomo, an explorer from the planet Orbis. - Actually, Dirk was supposed to fly to space back in 1986. But the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger delayed his flight until 1992. - Dirk's space flight lasted exactly 8 days, 22 hours, 9 minutes and 28 seconds.

He is modest, quiet, friendly and a mechanical engineer by profession. He is ALSO the most experienced astronaut in the whole world. Oleg Kononenko flew to space five times and made seven spacewalks. In total, he lived and worked more than 1,100 days in space. Aboard the space station ISS, he had a total of 55 different ‘roommates’ from 13 countries. In 2011, he was André Kuipers' commander. ‘I fly to space because that is what I love most, not to break records,’ Oleg said of what he has achieved. 'As a child, I dreamed of becoming a cosmonaut. That goal has motivated me all my life.' Did you know this about Oleg? - He is the first astronaut to live in space for a total of more than 1,000 days. It is now more than 1,100! - Oleg was selected as a cosmonaut back in 1996. It was only in 2008 that he flew his first space mission. - On 31 December 2018, he showed a flag of Turkmenistan aboard the ISS. After all, Oleg has many fond memories of his childhood in that country. - From 2023 to 2024, Oleg was in space for a year at a time. - In his youth, he played volleyball at a high level. He loves team sports and reading. - Oleg flew enough kilometres through space for a hundred return trips to the moon, a trip to Mars or even a one-way trip to Jupiter! - He celebrated four of his birthdays in space.

Samantha Cristoforetti flew two missions to space. In total, she lived in the International Space Station ISS for more than a year. The still holds the record for the longest European space flight (199 days) On board, Samantha explored how to fly future missions to the moon and to Mars. She also took a spacewalk of more than seven hours to install the European robotic arm ERA. A coffee lover, she brought the first-ever ‘zero-G’ espresso machine to space: the ISSpresso. Apart from coffee, she loves scuba diving, sports, healthy eating and, of course, the mesmerising view of Earth. Did you know this about Samantha? - She was born in Milan and studied mechanical engineering in Germany. - In 2009, she was chosen as an astronaut from among eight thousand different candidates. - She was the second woman from Europe sent to space and the first from Italy. - Samantha was made into a special Barbie doll, with flight coveralls and spacesuit. - She flew in two different spacecraft: the Russian Soyuz (2014/15) and SpaceX's Dragon (2022). - During her first mission, Samantha challenged schoolchildren to eat healthily and exercise more with the educational programme Mission X: Train Like an Astronaut. - In 2022, she made the first-ever TikTok video aboard the International Space Station. - Samantha speaks Italian, English, German, French, Russian and Chinese.

His full name is Russel Louis Schweickart. But everyone calls him ‘Rusty’. With his Apollo 9 mission, he thoroughly prepared for the first landing on the moon in the spring of 1969. Rusty tested the very first lunar lander - Spider - in low Earth orbit. And he already tried on the spacesuit that Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin of Apollo 11 would walk on the moon in. A second space mission did not materialise. So, Rusty worked tirelessly here on Earth on themes that are important to him: peaceful international cooperation and our protection from asteroids from space. Did you know this about Rusty? - Rusty was selected as an astronaut in 1963. He was a member of the third group of astronauts NASA recruited. - Before becoming an astronaut, Rusty was a jet fighter pilot in the US Air Force. - During the Apollo 9 mission, he became space sick. Partly because of this, he would not fly a second mission. Only later did it become known that half of all astronauts experience space sickness. - As a child, he lived on a farm in New Jersey. At the time, he wanted nothing more than to be a pilot and a cowboy. - After his career as an astronaut, Rusty worked in politics and business. His specialisms were science, engineering, and our energy future. - Rusty co-founded the ASE, the international club of astronauts. And the B612 Foundation. This foundation aims to protect Earth from asteroid impacts.

Together with two colleagues, Walt Cunningham flew the very first Apollo mission. His mission was no piece of cake. With Apollo 7, he had to test an entirely new spacecraft. The ship that humans would use to land on the moon a year later. Walt was pilot of the lunar lander. But that lunar lander was not yet ready when Apollo 7 was launched on 11 October 1968. Fortunately, he had plenty to do during the test flight. Among other things, Walt tested the Apollo service module's engine, the spacecraft's controls and he made the first live television broadcast from space. After 263 hours, his mission was over and he landed safely in the Atlantic Ocean. Did you know this about Walt? - Like Rusty Schweickart, Walt was selected by NASA in 1963 as a member of the third group of astronauts. - Before becoming an astronaut, he was a pilot in the US Navy. He flew over 50 night combat missions in Korea. - After his astronaut career, he worked as a director in business. He was also an investor and advisor to new companies. - In 1977, he published the book The All-American Boys. In it, he wrote about the extraordinary life and work of American astronauts. - In the early years of space travel, many astronauts were military. Walt was the second non-military to fly to space after Neil Armstrong. - Apart from being a physicist, astronaut and businessman, Walt was also a radio presenter, writer and he had the papers to be a real estate agent in the state of Texas.

He applied for the job of astronaut in 2009 but was not chosen. Nevertheless, Matthias Maurer went to work in space. He prepared the space missions of the future and worked at the flight control of the European space laboratory Columbus. In 2015, Matthias joined the European astronaut corps after all, and in 2021 he flew to space. He was launched on SpaceX's Dragon capsule along with three NASA astronauts. His mission to the space station ISS lasted six months and was called ‘Cosmic Kiss’. On board, he participated in over 100 scientific experiments. Matthias lived and worked 177 days in space. He made one spacewalk of almost seven hours. He called that experience ‘otherworldly. Did you know this about Matthias? - Before becoming an astronaut, he trained as an engineer in materials science. To pay for his studies, he worked as an ambulance driver. - His hobbies include travelling, photography, reading and learning languages. He also enjoys sports, especially cycling and hiking. - Before going to space, Matthias worked on new moon missions. He also participated in astronaut training in caves (ESA CAVES) and underwater (NASA NEEMO). - In August 2017, Matthias and Samantha Cristoforetti did survival training together with seven Chinese taikonauts. It was China's first-ever collaboration with astronauts from the rest of the world. - The name of his mission - Cosmic Kiss - represents the connection between Earth and space, via the International Space Station ISS. - When Matthias saw the moon from the ISS, he started dreaming of his own moon trip. But whether that will ever happen...

Should you choose one profession for your whole life? Pedro Duque certainly doesn't. He was selected as an astronaut in 1992. After two space missions, he worked at the University of Madrid and then ran a satellite applications company. But space continued to attract, so he returned to ESA to lead all of Europe's activities on the ISS. And then he also served as minister of science, innovation and universities in the Spanish government from 2018 to 2021. In total, Pedro spent almost 19 days in space. His first mission was in 1998 as a mission specialist aboard the space shuttle Discovery (STS-95). In 2003, he flew on the Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station for the Cervantes mission. Did you know this about Pedro? - He trained as an aerospace engineer. He had worked for ESA for six years before being chosen as an astronaut in 1992. - Pedro worked on major European components of the ISS. Columbus space laboratory and the Cupola viewing dome. - When he first went to space, he took spicy chorizo sausage and two kinds of cheese with him in his personal luggage. - Pedro flew in the space shuttle with John Glenn. The latter, at 77, was the oldest astronaut ever. - He was the first Spaniard in space. - Nearly eight million Spaniards watched Pedro launch live on television aboard the space shuttle. - His favourite books are Rendezvous with Rama, Moby Dick and Cosmos by Carl Sagan.

The International Space Station (ISS) has been continuously inhabited since November 2000, but Julie Payette got an early look in 1999 when she flew to the station aboard the space shuttle Discovery (STS-96). This historic mission marked the first time a space shuttle manually docked with the then-new ISS. Alongside her team, Julie delivered an impressive 4,000 kilograms of supplies to support future expeditions. A decade later, she returned to the ISS on the space shuttle Endeavour. This time, she brought with her an experimental platform designed for the Japanese laboratory Kibo, furthering the station's research capabilities. Julie’s contributions have played a vital role in advancing our understanding of space! Did you know this about Julie? - Before becoming an astronaut, she worked at the Canadian Space Agency on the robotic arm Canadarm2. - Julie was the first Canadian to have a look aboard the ISS. - When she was 19, she wanted to become a pilot in the Canadian Air Force. But at that time, no women were allowed to be pilots. - As a scientist, she worked on language processing and speech recognition for computers. - She is fluent in English and French, as well as Russian, Spanish, German and Italian. - She must be good at gaming, because during her second shuttle mission, Julie operated three different robotic arms: Canadarm2, the space shuttle's robotic arm and a Japanese robotic arm.

Rick Hieb is known for a remarkable achievement: in 1992, he piloted the space shuttle Endeavour on a mission to save the Intelsat VI satellite. Launched two years earlier, the satellite had found itself in too low an orbit, jeopardizing its mission. Working alongside his skilled colleagues, Rick oversaw a crucial refurbishment, equipping the satellite with a new engine. Once revitalized, Intelsat VI ascended to its intended orbit, an impressive 36,000 kilometers above Earth. This special repair mission was the second of Rick’s three space flights. His first mission was in 1991 (STS-39), and his final flight took place in 1994 (STS-65), where the crew conducted over eighty ground-breaking scientific experiments. Rick's contributions to space exploration continue to inspire! Did you know this about Rick? - He applied twice to become an astronaut, the first time he did not pass the selection. - The name Hieb is originally from Germany. Just like Rick's family, who emigrated from Europe to the United States in the seventeenth century. - After three space shuttle missions, Rick permanently hung up his flight overalls. He went to work for several satellite companies and then Lockheed Martin. - He worked at NASA's legendary Mission Control in Houston during the very first space shuttle flight in 1981. - Rick was part of the only spacewalk in history done by three astronauts at the same time. - Rick's second mission was the very first flight of the space shuttle Endeavour. - Rick flew more than 750 hours in space. He made three spacewalks totalling 17 hours. After his missions, the ‘odometer’ stood at nearly 21 million kilometres travelled around Earth.

Reinhold Ewald spent over 30 years in the space industry, with 18 unforgettable days actually living among the stars. In 1997, he flew to Russia’s Mir space station, where he conducted biomedical experiments, materials research, and soaked up all the knowledge he could about life aboard a space station. That experience proved invaluable when he joined the European Space Agency (ESA) in 1999. Construction of the International Space Station (ISS) had just begun the previous year, and European astronauts were preparing for their missions to the new station. Ewald played a key role, supporting his colleagues' space missions and helping to develop critical components for the ISS, including the Columbus space laboratory. He was on the ground when the Columbus lab launched aboard the space shuttle in 2008 and went on to lead its day-to-day operations with a dedicated team at the Columbus Control Centre near Munich. Did you know this about Reinhold? - Reinhold loves reading and spending time with his family. He played in an amateur theatre company, played football and has the black belt in karate. - As a scientific researcher, he built and operated a radio telescope near Zermatt in Switzerland. He investigated interstellar clouds in the universe, where stars are born. - In 2015, he became professor of space and space stations at the University of Stuttgart on behalf of ESA. He took over that job from astronaut Ernst Messerschmid. - In 1992, he trained as a reserve astronaut for the first German-Russian Mir ‘92 mission. He would eventually fly on the second German-Russian mission: Mir ‘97. - In 2004, Reinhold was in charge of the DELTA mission, flown by André Kuipers, from ESTEC in Noordwijk. - He cannot wait for European astronauts to go to the moon. To discover how it came to be and whether we can survive there.