List of Dutch astronauts
Encyclopedia
As of 2009, The Netherlands
is the country of birth to three astronauts, one of whom went to space as an American citizen. Two of the three astronauts flew to space on board a Space Shuttle
, while one of them used the Russian Soyuz
to reach space.
. He was born March 24, 1932, in Sluiskil
, Zeeland. Van den Berg was launched aboard Space Shuttle Challenger
on April 29, 1985, as a Payload Specialist
of mission STS-51B. During the seven-day mission, Van den Berg conducted several experiments on crystal growth.
At the time of his flight, Van den Berg was not a Dutch citizen, having been naturalized as US citizen.
. He was born March 28, 1946 in Almelo
, Overijssel. Ockels rocketed towards space aboard Space Shuttle Challenger on October 30, 1985 – just over half a year after Lodewijk van den Berg – as a Payload Specialist of mission STS-61A.
. He was born October 5, 1958 in Amsterdam
, Noord-Holland. Kuipers, unlike his two predecessors, was launched by a Soyuz spacecraft: Soyuz TMA-4
. He served as flight engineer
. During his eleven-day trip towards the International Space Station
(ISS), Kuipers conducted twenty-one experiments on a wide range of subjects.
Kuipers is the only Dutch astronaut who is still active. He is currently training for a six-month mission to the ISS, as Flight Engineer 4 and Flight Engineer 1 on ISS Expeditions 30
and 31
, respectively. Kuipers is scheduled to launch in December 2011 and land in June 2012.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
is the country of birth to three astronauts, one of whom went to space as an American citizen. Two of the three astronauts flew to space on board a Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
, while one of them used the Russian Soyuz
Soyuz spacecraft
Soyuz , Union) is a series of spacecraft initially designed for the Soviet space programme by the Korolyov Design Bureau in the 1960s, and still in service today...
to reach space.
Lodewijk van den Berg
The first Dutch-born astronaut to have been to space is Lodewijk van den BergLodewijk van den Berg
Lodewijk van den Berg is a Dutch American chemical engineer, specializing in crystal growth, who flew on a 1985 Space Shuttle Challenger mission as a Payload Specialist....
. He was born March 24, 1932, in Sluiskil
Sluiskil
Sluiskil is a town in the Dutch province of Zeeland. It is a part of the municipality of Terneuzen, and lies about 27 km southeast of Vlissingen.In 2001, the town of Sluiskil had 2366 inhabitants...
, Zeeland. Van den Berg was launched aboard Space Shuttle Challenger
Space Shuttle Challenger
Space Shuttle Challenger was NASA's second Space Shuttle orbiter to be put into service, Columbia having been the first. The shuttle was built by Rockwell International's Space Transportation Systems Division in Downey, California...
on April 29, 1985, as a Payload Specialist
Payload Specialist
A Payload Specialist ' was an individual selected and trained by commercial or research organizations for flights of a specific payload on a NASA Space Shuttle mission...
of mission STS-51B. During the seven-day mission, Van den Berg conducted several experiments on crystal growth.
At the time of his flight, Van den Berg was not a Dutch citizen, having been naturalized as US citizen.
Wubbo Ockels
The second Dutch-born astronaut and first Dutch citizen to have been to space is Wubbo OckelsWubbo Ockels
Prof. Dr. Wubbo Johannes Ockels is a Dutch physicist and a former ESA astronaut. In 1985 he participated in a flight on a space shuttle , making him the first Dutch citizen in space. He was not the first Dutch-born astronaut, as he is preceded by the naturalized American Lodewijk van den Berg, who...
. He was born March 28, 1946 in Almelo
Almelo
Almelo is a municipality and a city in the eastern Netherlands. The main population centres in the town are Aadorp, Almelo, Mariaparochie and Bornerbroek....
, Overijssel. Ockels rocketed towards space aboard Space Shuttle Challenger on October 30, 1985 – just over half a year after Lodewijk van den Berg – as a Payload Specialist of mission STS-61A.
André Kuipers
The third Dutch-born astronaut and second Dutch citizen to have been to space is André KuipersAndré Kuipers
André Kuipers is a Dutch physician and ESA astronaut. He officially became the second Dutch and the third Dutch-born astronaut upon launch of Soyuz TMA-4 on April 19, 2004. Kuipers returned to Earth aboard Soyuz TMA-3 11 days later.Kuipers is scheduled to become the first Dutch astronaut to...
. He was born October 5, 1958 in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, Noord-Holland. Kuipers, unlike his two predecessors, was launched by a Soyuz spacecraft: Soyuz TMA-4
Soyuz TMA-4
Soyuz TMA-4 was a Soyuz mission to the International Space Station launched by a Soyuz FG launch vehicle. It was launched on April 19, 2004 from Baikonur Cosmodrome. Gennady Padalka from Russia, Michael Fincke from the USA and André Kuipers from the Netherlands were flown to the International...
. He served as flight engineer
Flight engineer
Flight engineers work in three types of aircraft: fixed-wing , rotary wing , and space flight .As airplanes became even larger requiring more engines and complex systems to operate, the workload on the two pilots became excessive during certain critical parts of the flight regime, notably takeoffs...
. During his eleven-day trip towards the International Space Station
International Space Station
The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
(ISS), Kuipers conducted twenty-one experiments on a wide range of subjects.
Kuipers is the only Dutch astronaut who is still active. He is currently training for a six-month mission to the ISS, as Flight Engineer 4 and Flight Engineer 1 on ISS Expeditions 30
Expedition 30
Expedition 30 is the 30th and current long-duration mission to the International Space Station . The expedition's first three crew members – Dan Burbank, Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoli Ivanishin – arrived on the ISS aboard Soyuz TMA-22 on 16 November 2011, during the last phase of...
and 31
Expedition 31
Expedition 31 is scheduled to be the thirty-first expedition to the International Space Station.-Crew:Source: NASA-External links:**...
, respectively. Kuipers is scheduled to launch in December 2011 and land in June 2012.