Enjoying the Magic of Space with Swiss/ESA Astronaut Claude Nicollier
Former astronaut Claude Nicollier currently holds a position as Honorary Professor teaching Space mission designs and operations at the EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne. He graduated from the University of Lausanne in 1970 (Bachelor of Science in Physics) and the University of Geneva in 1975 (Master of Science in Astrophysics). He also graduated as a Swiss Air Force pilot in 1966, an airline pilot in 1974 and a test pilot in 1988. He was a member of the first group of European Space Agency (ESA) astronauts selected in 1978. He was then detached to the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, to train as a crewmember for Space Shuttle missions.
Claude Nicollier participated in many high-profile missions, who paved the way for the next generations of European astronauts. He was assigned as a Mission Specialist on four Space Shuttle flights, including the first and the third missions to service the Hubble Space Telescope in orbit. He spent more than 1’000 hours in space, and performed a spacewalk on this last mission in December 1999 to install new equipment on the orbiting observatory.
Based on his unique experience, Claude shared his knowledge to the next generation of scientists, engineers, policymakers and society at large through his lectures at EPFL, but also many public appearances.
He is one of the most influential figures of the space sector in Switzerland. Participants of the CSD space congress will enjoy a special keynote “Space Magic”, an astronaut’s perspective on going and staying in Space. Do not wait to book your ticket and meet him in person at the Commercial Space Days 2023 in Luzern.