Introduction
André Kuipers born 5 October 1958 is a Dutch physician and ESA astronaut. He became the second Dutch citizen, third Dutch-born and fifth Dutch-speaking astronaut upon launch of Soyuz TMA-4 on 19 April 2004. Kuipers returned to Earth aboard Soyuz TMA-3 11 days later.
Kuipers is the first Dutch astronaut to return to space. On 5 August 2009, Dutch minister of economic affairs Maria van der Hoeven, announced Kuipers was selected as an astronaut for International Space Station (ISS) Expeditions 30 and 31. He was launched to space on 21 December 2011 and returned to Earth on 1 July 2012.
Early life and education
André Kuipers graduated from high school in Amsterdam in 1977, and received a medical degree from the University of Amsterdam in 1987. He is married and has three daughters and a son.
When interviewed about his youth, Kuipers stated that he dreamed of becoming an astronaut ever since he was a teenager.His dreams became reality when he was selected to the European Astronaut Corps in 1998.
Career trajectory
1999 member of Astronaut Corps European Space Agency
2003 backup Cervantes Mission
2004 DELTA mission to ISS (11 days)
2009 backup Expedition 20/21
2010 backup Expedtion 28/29
2011-2012 Expedition 30/31 (mission PromISSe) to ISS (193 days)
Since back on Earth active to inspire young and old with lectures, children's books and as a tv presenter to promote the indispensable benefits of exploration and space science, international cooperation and to inspire especially the young generation for science and technology to promote a better stewardship of our home planet.
Regular guest in talkshows and host of various television programs about space and/or sustainability. The latests of the TV activities are 'Space Challenge - Mission to Mars', a chidren’s program (NPO3). And 'Spaceship Earth' for families (NPO1). Both series were broadcasted on Dutch public television on Saturday evening prime time resp in November and December 2022 and January and February 2023.
Co-initiator of educational project aimed at school children is the Space Buzz. The SpaceBuzz Foundation aims to inspire children worldwide with the view of an astronaut, to enthuse them to become ‘ambassadors of planet Earth’. The worldwide launch of the SpaceBuzz was in 2019 in Houston, USA.
Current functions and memberships
Board member Association of Space Explores ASE
Member Royal Palace Committee
Member Dutch Aviation Medicine Society
Member Dutch Association for Spaceflight
Special Honours
Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion
Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau
King of Arms at the inauguration of King Willem-Alexander
Honorary Doctorate by University of Amsterdam
Recipient of the Order of Friendship of Russia
NASA Space Flight Medal
Pre-astronaut experience
From 1991 to 2002, Science Coordinator of physiological experiments for ESA/ESTEC. Involved in the preparation, coordination, baseline data collection and ground control of physiological experiments for ESA space missions.
In 1989 and 1990 at the the Netherlands Aerospace Medical Centre as Medical Examiner researcher. Research on the Space Adaptation Syndrome, contact lenses for pilots, vestibular apparatus, blood pressure and cerebral blood flow in both high-acceleration conditions in a human centrifuge and in microgravity conditions in airplanes. Medical examinations of pilots and monitoring human centrifuge training as well as teaching pilots physiological aspects of flying.
In 1987 and 1988, officer of the Royal Netherlands Air Force Medical Corps, research on disorientation in fighter pilots.
References
- "ESA astronaut André Kuipers to spend six months on the ISS starting in 2011". Retrieved 9 December 2014.
- ^ Chow, Denise. "Space station trio heading back to Earth in Russian capsule". MSNBC. Retrieved 9 December 2014.[dead link]
- ^ "André Kuipers". Archived from the original on 30 January 2008. Retrieved 27 January 2008.
- ^ "Preflight Interview: Andre Kuipers". NASA. 1 November 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ "Dutch Astronaut André Kuipers – a two-part interview". 25 December 2005.
- ^ "NASA – Expedition 31". Retrieved 14 May 2012.
- ^ "List of Experiments". Retrieved 26 November 2008.
- ^ "Dutch ESA astronaut goes to ISS with hefty package of scientific experiments". Retrieved 26 November 2008.
- ^ Jump up to:a b "Kuipers moet uiterlijk in 2011 de ruimte in" (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2009.
- ^ "André Kuipers opnieuw de ruimte in" (in Dutch). Retrieved 21 September 2009.
- ^ Klotz, Irene (23 December 2011). "New crew arrives at International Space Station". Reuters. Archived from the original on 9 January 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
- ^ André Kuipers in de ruimte – website www.volkskrant.nl
- ^ Jump up to:a b Opnieuw koninklijke onderscheiding Kuipers – www.nu.nl
- ^ UvA viert 381ste Dies Natalis - website www.uva.nl
- ^ "OOG Dinsdag: André Kuipers krijgt Poetins vriendschapsmedaille - NOS Nieuws". Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2013. – website www.nos.nl