Claude Nicollier

Claude Nicollier
NASA-ESA · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Claude Nicollier
Caption	Claude Nicollier in 1999
Birth date	1944-09-02
Birth place	Vevey, Switzerland
Occupation	Astronaut, Test pilot, Astrophysicist
Alma mater	École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Nationality	Swiss

Claude Nicollier

Claude Nicollier is a Swiss astrophysicist, test pilot, and former European Space Agency astronaut who became the first astronaut from Switzerland to fly on NASA Space Shuttle missions. He trained and flew with international organizations and programs including the European Space Agency, NASA, and the Swiss Air Force, participating in four Space Shuttle missions that involved satellite deployment, servicing, and scientific research.

Early life and education

Born in Vevey, Nicollier attended local schools before enrolling at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne where he studied physics and astrophysics. He pursued postgraduate work and research that connected him to institutions such as the University of Geneva University of Geneva, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, and observational facilities tied to the European Southern Observatory European Southern Observatory and the Centre National d'Études Spatiales Centre National d'Études Spatiales. His scientific training included exposure to programs and facilities associated with the European Space Agency European Space Agency, the Swiss National Science Foundation Swiss National Science Foundation, and research collaborations involving the European Space Research and Technology Centre European Space Research and Technology Centre, the Max Planck Society Max Planck Society, and the Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris.

Military and test pilot career

Nicollier served in the Swiss Air Force Swiss Air Force, flying aircraft models linked to procurement and training programs from manufacturers such as Dassault Dassault Aviation, Northrop Northrop Corporation, and Gloster Gloster Aircraft Company. He completed test pilot training at institutions connected to the Empire Test Pilots' School Empire Test Pilots' School and had exchanges with the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), the French Armée de l'Air French Air and Space Force, and NATO NATO testing units. His test flights involved avionics and aerodynamic trials related to platforms supported by Aerospatiale Aérospatiale, British Aerospace British Aerospace, and the Swiss aircraft industry represented by Pilatus Aircraft Pilatus Aircraft. During this period he worked with engineering groups from the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology EMPA, the Federal Office for Civil Aviation Federal Office of Civil Aviation (Switzerland), and international research centers including the Royal Aerospace Establishment Royal Aircraft Establishment.

ESA astronaut selection and training

Nicollier was selected as an astronaut candidate by the European Space Agency European Space Agency and underwent mission training at NASA's Johnson Space Center Johnson Space Center, the Kennedy Space Center Kennedy Space Center, and the Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center. His training curriculum included simulations at the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, systems instruction involving the Space Shuttle program Space Shuttle, and communications and coordination training with the Mission Control Center Mission Control Center (Houston). He participated in cooperative programs with international partners such as Roscosmos Roscosmos, the Canadian Space Agency Canadian Space Agency, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, receiving instruction aligned with procedures from the United States Air Force United States Air Force test squadrons and European astronaut corps activities at the European Astronaut Centre European Astronaut Centre.

Spaceflights and mission roles

Nicollier flew on four Space Shuttle missions: STS-46, STS-61, STS-75, and STS-103. On missions coordinated with satellite operators like the European Space Agency European Space Agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and contractors such as Boeing Boeing and Lockheed Lockheed Corporation, he operated remote manipulator systems linked to the Canadarm Canadarm supplied by the Canadian Space Agency Canadian Space Agency. During STS-46 he participated in deployment activities connected to the European Space Agency's European Retrievable Carrier and collaborations with the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites EUMETSAT and the European Space Operations Centre European Space Operations Centre. On STS-61 he was a mission specialist during the Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission involving the Space Telescope Science Institute Space Telescope Science Institute, the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, and collaborators at the Goddard Space Flight Center Goddard Space Flight Center. STS-75 involved experiments such as tethered satellite systems associated with agencies like the Italian Space Agency Agenzia Spaziale Italiana and academic teams from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Colorado Boulder University of Colorado Boulder. On STS-103 he participated in another Hubble servicing mission coordinated with the Space Telescope European Coordinating Facility Space Telescope European Coordinating Facility, the European Space Agency European Space Agency, and instrument teams from Ball Aerospace Ball Aerospace and TRW TRW Inc..

Post-flight career and contributions

After leaving active flight status, Nicollier worked in roles with the European Space Agency European Space Agency, the Swiss Space Office Swiss Space Office, and academic institutions including the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and the University of Geneva University of Geneva. He contributed to space operations consultancy for ESA projects such as Columbus Columbus (ISS module), automated transfer vehicles linked to the European Automated Transfer Vehicle program Automated Transfer Vehicle, and coordination with the International Space Station partnership including NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Roscosmos Roscosmos, and JAXA Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Nicollier has lectured at institutions like the International Astronautical Federation International Astronautical Federation, the Royal Aeronautical Society Royal Aeronautical Society, and the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences, and collaborated with research centers such as CERN CERN and the European Space Research Organisation predecessors. He also engaged with public outreach via organizations including the Museum of Flight Museum of Flight (Seattle), the Smithsonian Institution Smithsonian Institution, and Swiss science museums linked to the Swiss Federal Office of Culture Federal Office of Culture (Switzerland).

Honors and awards

Nicollier has received honors from national and international bodies including the Swiss Confederation Swiss Confederation, the European Space Agency European Space Agency, and NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration. He has been awarded decorations connected to cantonal governments such as Vaud Canton of Vaud and recognized by societies like the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, the International Astronautical Federation International Astronautical Federation, and the Royal Aeronautical Society Royal Aeronautical Society. Academic distinctions include honorary degrees from universities such as the University of Geneva University of Geneva and technical awards conferred by the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and engineering academies including the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences.

Category:Swiss astronauts Category:European Space Agency astronauts Category:1944 births Category:Living people