André Kuipers

Infobox Astronaut
name = André Kuipers


width = 200px
caption = André Kuipers at a press conference in 2004
type = Astronaut
nationality = Dutch
status =
date_birth = birth date and age|1958|10|5
place_birth = Amsterdam, Netherlands
occupation = Physician
current_occupation =
previous_occupation =
rank =
time = 10 days, 20 hours, 53 minutes
selection = 1998 ESA Group
mission = Soyuz TMA-4, Soyuz TMA-3
insignia =
Date of ret =

André Kuipers (born October 5, 1958) is a Dutch physician and ESA astronaut. In 2004, he made a space flight to the International Space Station.

Early life

André Kuipers is born on October 5, 1958 in Amsterdam in the Netherlands. He graduated from high school in Amsterdam in 1977, and as medical doctor from the University of Amsterdam in 1987. [ [http://www.esa.int/esaHS/ESAMWUZUMOC_astronauts_0.html André Kuipers] . Retrieved on 2008-01-27.]

pace flight

Using the Soyuz spacecraft Soyuz TMA-4, Gennady Padalka from Russia, Michael Fincke from the U.S. and Kuipers flew to the International Space Station. Kuipers returned to earth 9 days later together with the ISS Expedition 8 crew in Soyuz TMA-3. The other two stayed on as ISS Expedition 9, as did the Soyuz TMA-4 crew.

He is the second Dutch citizen (but third person born in the Netherlands) to fly in space and the first to fly on a Russian spacecraft. The previous Dutch space traveler was Wubbo Ockels. Lodewijk van den Berg was also born in the Netherlands, became a US citizen, and lost his Dutch citizenship before becoming an astronaut.

References

External links

* [http://www.esa.int/export/esaHS/ESAMWUZUMOC_astronauts_0.html Kuipers' biography at ESA]
* [http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/international/english/kuipers_andre.htm Spacefacts biography of André Kuipers]