Wubbo Ockels

Wubbo Ockels is a Dutch physicist and astronaut. In 1985 he participated in a flight of the space shuttle Challenger, making him the first Dutchman in space. Ockels is currently a part-time professor of aeronautics and space travel at the Delft University of Technology.

Challenger mission

In 1978, he was selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) as one of three European payload specialists to train for the Spacelab 1 mission. In May 1980, under agreement between ESA and NASA, Ockels was selected to begin the basic astronaut training for mission specialist together with the NASA astronaut candidates at NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas. He successfully completed this training in August 1981. He rejoined the Spacelab 1 crew for training as a back-up payload specialist to operate experiments aboard Spacelab 1. This mission of a reusable, scientific research facility built by the European Space Agency (ESA) took place aboard the Space Shuttle in November 1983. Spacelab 1 was a joint NASA/ESA mission.

Related Topics:
1978 - European Space Agency - Spacelab 1 - 1980 - NASA - Johnson Space Center - Houston, Texas - 1981 - 1983

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ockels flew as a payload specialist on the crew of STS-61A Challenger (October 30 to November 6, 1985). STS-61A was the West German D-1 Spacelab mission. It was the first to carry eight crew members, the largest to fly in space, and was also the first in which payload activities were controlled from outside the United States. More than 75 scientific experiments were completed in the areas of physiological sciences, materials science, biology, and navigation. At mission conclusion Ockels had traveled 2.5 million miles in 110 Earth orbits, and logged over 168 hours in space.

Related Topics:
STS-61A Challenger - October 30 - November 6 - 1985 - Physiological sciences - Materials science - Biology - Navigation

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A small planetoid is named after Wubbo Ockels by the International Astronomical Union. The planetoid orbits the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. The objects full name is 9496 Ockels.

Related Topics:
Planetoid - International Astronomical Union - Mars - Jupiter - 9496 Ockels

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ockels is a member of the American Physical Society and the European Physical Society. From to 2003, he was head of ESA's Office for Educational Projects Outreach Activities.

Related Topics:
American Physical Society - European Physical Society

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ockels is married with two children.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In August 2005, Ockels had a severe heart attack which required his hospitalization.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=19&story_id=23114&name=Former+Dutch+astronaut+in+hospital

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~