Personal data Alexander Gerst was born in Knzelsau, Germany, on 3 May 1976.

His favourite sports are fencing, swimming and running. He especially enjoys outdoor activities such as skydiving, snowboarding, hiking, mountaineering, climbing and scuba diving. Education Alex graduated from the Technical High School in hringen, Germany, in 1995. In 2003 he received a diploma in geophysics from the University of Karlsruhe, Germany, and a masters degree in Earth sciences from the Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. Both degrees were awarded with distinction. In 2010 Alex graduated with a Doctorate in Natural Sciences at the Institute of Geophysics of the University of Hamburg, Germany. His dissertation was on geophysics and volcanic eruption dynamics. Organisations Alex is a member of

The International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of Earths Interior (IAVCEI) The German Geophysical Society (DGG) The European Geosciences Union (EGU) The European Volcanological Society (SVE) The American Geophysical Union (AGU)

Experience During school, Alex volunteered as a boy scout leader, fire-fighter and water rescue lifeguard. As a student, from 1998 to 2003 he participated in various international scientific collaborations and field experiments. Several of these expeditions led him to remote locations such as Antarctica where he installed scientific instruments.

From 2001 to 2003, researching his masters thesis on a volcano in New Zealand, Alex developed new volcano monitoring techniques that might improve forecasts of volcanic eruptions. The results were published inScience Magazine. Alex worked on developing scientific instruments at the Institute of Geophysics at the University of Hamburg between 2004 and 2009. From 2005 to 2009, whilst at the Institute of Geophysics, he also worked towards his doctorate, investigating volcanic eruption dynamics on active volcanoes. His research goal was to determine the mechanics and the energy released during the first seconds of a volcanic eruption. His research led him to visit volcanoes on all continents, concentrating on an active volcano in Antarctica. In 2007 Alex received the Bernd Rendel award for outstanding research from the DFG German Research Foundation. Alex was selected as an ESA astronaut in May 2009. He joined ESA in September 2009 and completed Astronaut Basic Training in November 2010. In September 2011, Alex was assigned to fly to the International Space Station on a six-month mission. He will serve as a flight engineer for Expeditions 40 and 41. He will be launched on a Soyuz spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in May 2014, returning to Earth in November 2014. His comprehensive research programme will include a wide variety of European and international science experiments.

Samantha Cristoforetti

Personal data Born in Milan, Italy, on 26 April 1977, Samantha Cristoforetti enjoys hiking, scuba diving, yoga, reading and travelling. Other interests include technology, nutrition and the Chinese language. Education Samantha completed her secondary education at the Liceo Scientifico in Trento, Italy, in 1996 after having spent a year as an exchange student in the United States. In 2001, she graduated from the Technische Universitt Munich, Germany, with a masters degree in mechanical engineering with specialisations in aerospace propulsion and lightweight structures. As part of her studies, she spent four months at the Ecole Nationale Suprieure de lAronautique et de lEspace in Toulouse, France, working on an experimental project in aerodynamics. She wrote her masters thesis in solid rocket propellants during a 10-month research stay at the Mendeleev University of Chemical Technologies in Moscow, Russia. As part of her training at the Italian Air Force Academy, she also completed a bachelors degree in aeronautical sciences at the University of Naples Federico II, Italy, in 2005. Experience In 2001 Samantha joined the Italian Air Force Academy in Pozzuoli, Italy, graduating in 2005. She served as class leader and was awarded the Honour Sword for best academic achievement. From 2005 to 2006, she was based at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas, USA. After completing the Euro-NATO

Joint Jet Pilot Training, she became a fighter pilot and was assigned to the 132nd Squadron, 51st Bomber Wing, based in Istrana, Italy. In 2007, Samantha completed Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals training. From 2007 to 2008, she flew the MB-339 and served in the Plan and Operations Section for the 51st Bomber Wing in Istrana, Italy. In 2008, she joined the 101st Squadron, 32nd Bomber Wing, based at Foggia, Italy, where she completed operational conversion training for the AM-X ground attack fighter. Samantha is a Captain in the Italian Air Force. She has logged over 500 hours flying six types of military aircraft: SF-260, T-37, T-38, MB-339A, MB-339CD and AM-X. Samantha was selected as an ESA astronaut in May 2009. She joined ESA in September 2009 and completed basic astronaut training in November 2010. In July 2012 she was assigned to a mission aboard the International Space Station, to be launched on a Soyuz spacecraft from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in 2014. This will be the eighth long-duration mission for an ESA astronaut. Samantha is now training for her mission on Station systems, the Russian Soyuz spacecraft, robotics and spacewalks. When not in training in the US, Russia, Canada or Japan, Samantha is based at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany. She enjoys interacting with space enthusiasts on Twitter as @AstroSamantha.

Personal data Born in Copenhagen, Denmark on 2 November 1976, Andreas enjoys rugby, basketball, and squash. He is also active in several adventure sports, including scuba diving, skydiving, kite surfing, kayaking and mountaineering. Other interests include science, in particular astrophysics, exobiology, and evolution. Andreas blogs about space exploration and his astronaut training activities in Danish atvidenskab.dk/profil/andreas-mogensen. Education Andreas finished secondary school in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1995, graduating with an International Baccalaureate from the Copenhagen International School. He received a masters degree in aeronautical engineering from Imperial College London in the UK in 1999. As part of his studies, he spent a semester at the Instituto Superior Tecnico in Lisbon, Portugal. Andreas received a doctorate in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in the United States in 2007. His research interests include guidance, navigation and control of spacecraft during entry, descent and landing; mission analysis and design; and trajectory optimisation.

Organisations

Member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Member of the American Astronautical Society (AAS) Member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Experience Andreas began his professional career as an engineer at Schlumberger Oilfield Services, where he worked as a drilling services engineer from 2000 to 2001. He was stationed in the Republic of Congo and the Republic of Angola working on offshore oil rigs. From 2001 to 2003, Andreas worked at Vestas Wind Systems in Ringkbing, Denmark as a control systems engineer in the research and development department, where he designed control systems for wind turbines. From 2004 to 2007, while working towards his doctorate, Andreas was a research assistant at the Center for Space Research and a teaching assistant in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, USA. From 2007 to 2008, Andreas worked as attitude and orbit control systems engineer for HE Space Operations. He was subcontracted to EADS Astrium in Friedrichshafen, Germany for the duration of his employment, where he worked on ESAs Swarm mission. Before being selected as an astronaut in 2009, Andreas was a research fellow at the Surrey Space Centre at the University of Surrey in the UK. His research focused on spacecraft guidance, navigation and control during entry, descent and landing for lunar missions. Andreas was selected as an ESA astronaut in May 2009 and completed the astronaut basic training programme at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany in November 2010. Since completing the astronaut basic training programme, Andreas has been trained and certified as a private pilot by the Lufthansa flight school and is trained and qualified for spacewalks using both the American EMU suit and the Russian Orlan suit. Andreas participated in the ESA CAVES 2012 mission, as part of an international team of six astronauts, living underground for a week and exploring a cave system in Sardinia. The ESA CAVES training is a space-mission analogue, focusing on human behaviour and performance in extreme environments. Andreas was also selected to participate in the NASA SEATEST 2 mission, which took place in September 2013. The SEATEST 2 mission, at the Aquarius undersea research laboratory, is also an analogue for space exploration missions. In addition to his training activities, Andreas worked for ESA on the Lunar Lander programme at ESTEC, the Netherlands where he was involved in the design of the guidance, navigation and control system for precision landing.

Andreas is a qualified Eurocom at the Columbus Control Centre in Munich, where he communicates with the astronauts on the International Space Station. Andreas is also an adjunct lecturer at the National Space Institute at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU Space). In August 2013 Andreas was assigned to a 10-day mission to the International Space Station to be launched 30 September 2015 on the Soyuz TMA-18 spacecraft. He will be the first astronaut of Danish nationality to go to space.

Personal data Born in Patern (although he considers Catania to be his hometown), Italy, on 27 September 1976 Luca Parmitano is married with two daughters. He enjoys scuba diving, snowboarding, skydiving, weight training and swimming. Other interests include reading and music. Education Luca graduated from the Liceo Scientifico Statale 'Galileo Galilei' in Catania, Italy, in 1995.

In 1999, he completed a bachelors degree in political sciences at the University of Naples Federico II, Italy, with a thesis on international law. In 2000, he graduated from the Italian Air Force Academy, in Pozzuoli, Italy. Luca completed basic air force training with the US Air Force at the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training in Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, US, in 2001. He completed the JCO/CAS course with the USAFE in Sembach, Germany, in 2002. In 2003, he qualified as Electronic Warfare Officer at the ReSTOGE in Pratica di Mare, Italy. He completed the Tactical Leadership Programme in Florennes, Belgium, in 2005. In July 2009, Luca completed a masters degree in experimental flight test engineering at the Institute Superieure de lAeronautique et de lEspace in Toulouse, France. Special honours Awarded a Silver Medal to the Aeronautical Valour by the President of the Italian Republic in 2007. Experience Following completion of undergraduate pilot training in 2001, Luca flew the AM-X aircraft with the 13th Group, 32nd Wing in Amendola, Italy, from 2001 to 2007. During that time, he obtained all aircraft qualifications, including Combat Ready, Four Ship Leader and Mission Commander/Package Leader. Within the 13th Group he served as Chief of Training Section and Commander of the 76th Squadron. He was also the 32nd Wing Electronic Warfare Officer. In 2007, he was selected by the Italian Air Force to become a test pilot. He trained as an Experimental Test Pilot at EPNER, the French test pilot school in Istres. Luca is a major in the Italian Air Force. He has logged more than 2000 hours flying time, is qualified on more than 20 types of military airplanes and helicopters, and has flown over 40 types of aircraft. Luca was selected as an ESA astronaut in May 2009. In February 2011, Luca was assigned as a flight engineer to a long-duration mission to the International Space Station. He was launched on a Soyuz launcher from Baikonur, Kazakhstan on 28 May 2013. Luca spent 166 days in space conducting over 20 experiments and took part in two spacewalks and the docking of four spacecraft for his Volare mission. He landed safely back on Earth on 11 November 2013.

Personal data Born in Chichester, England, on 7 April 1972, Tim is married with two sons. Among his leisure activities he enjoys skiing, scuba diving, cross-country running, climbing, and mountaineering in his wifes native Scotland. He has also completed the London Marathon. Other interests include quantum physics and aviation. Education Tim completed his secondary education at Chichester High School for Boys in West Sussex, England, in 1990. In 1992, he graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as an officer in the British Army Air Corps. Having been selected for the Empire Test Pilots School at Boscombe Down, he graduated in 2005 and was awarded the Westland Trophy for the best rotary wing pilot student. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in flight dynamics and evaluation from the University of Portsmouth in 2006. Special Honours Tim was awarded the Commander-in-Chiefs Certificate for Meritorious Service for exemplary and dedicated service to the British Army in 2006. Organisations

Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society Member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.

Experience At school, Tim was a member of the Combined Cadet Force for six years, finishing as Cadet Warrant Officer. Before joining the Army he was part of a six-month Operation Raleigh expedition to Alaska to work on environmental projects. Upon becoming an Army Air Corps officer in 1992, Tim served on attachment with the Royal Green Jackets as a Platoon Commander in Northern Ireland, before beginning flight training. He was awarded his Army Flying Wings in 1994. Between 1994 and 1998 he served as a reconnaissance pilot and flight commander in Germany, the Former Republic of Yugoslavia, Northern Ireland, Kenya and Canada. He also qualified as a Combat Survival and Rescue Instructor, and a Flight Safety Officer. Tim qualified as a helicopter flying instructor in 1998 before being selected for an exchange posting with the US Army flying Apache helicopters with the 1st Cavalry at Fort Hood, Texas (1999 2002). On his return to the UK, he became an Apache helicopter instructor from 2002 to 2005, during which time he was instrumental in introducing the Apache into service with the British Army. On completion of test pilot training, Tim served with Rotary Wing Test Squadron, Boscombe Down, between 2006 and 2009. He was the senior Apache test pilot in addition to being test pilot for Special Forces aircraft projects. He was also the Squadron Training Officer and qualified as a Post Crash Management Incident Officer. On retirement from the British Army as a major in 2009, Tim was employed as a senior helicopter test pilot for AgustaWestland, flying Apache, Lynx, EH101 and A109 aircraft. During his career, he has logged over 3000 hours flying time on more than 30 types of helicopter and fixed wing aircraft, including the Hawk, Dakota, Harvard and Mi-17. He maintains his flying as a major in the Territorial Army, and also holds a private pilots licence. Tim was selected as an ESA astronaut in May 2009. He joined ESA in September 2009 and completed Astronaut Basic Training in November 2010. He received Eurocom certification in September 2011, which allows him to be responsible for communication between astronauts in orbit and Europes Mission Control Centre. With five other astronauts, he joined a 2011 mission as part of an international team living underground for a week and exploring a cave system in Sardinia, with the focus on human behaviour and performance in extreme environments. In June 2012, Tim spent 12 days in the Aquarius habitat 20 m below the sea off the coast of Florida for NASAs Extreme Environment Mission Operations, or NEEMO. NEEMO allows space agencies to test

technologies and conduct research for future missions. Tims NEEMO 16 mission focused on developi ng the tools, techniques and procedures required for a crewed mission to an asteroid. In 2012 Tim completed training and certification for spacewalks using both the Russian Orlan spacesuit and the US Extravehicular Mobility Unit. He was appointed an ambassador for UK Science and space-based careers in 2009 and is involved in working with the UK Space Agency in developing the UKs microgravity research programme. He is keenly interested in promoting science and engineering as career possibilities for school pupils and students. Current assignment Tim is based at ESAs European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany. He is currently training for his long-duration mission to the International Space Station, to be launched at the end of November 2015. He will be the first British ESA astronaut to visit the Space Station. Until his assignment was announced in 2013, Tim was Lead Eurocom for Luca Parmitanos six-month Volare mission that started in May of that year.

Personal data Born in Rouen, France, on 27 February 1978, Thomas Pesquet is a black belt in judo and enjoys basketball, jogging, swimming, squash and outdoor sports such as mountain biking, kite surfing, sailing, skiing and mountaineering. He also has extensive experience in scuba diving and sky diving. His other interests include travelling, playing the saxophone and reading. Education Thomas graduated from the Lyce Pierre Corneille in Rouen, France, in 1998. In 2001, he received a masters degree from the cole Nationale Suprieure de lAronautique et de lEspace in Toulouse, France, majoring in space systems and space vehicle mechanics. He spent his final year before graduation at the cole Polytechnique de Montral, Canada, as an exchange student on the Aeronautics and Space Master. Thomas graduated from the Air France flight school in 2006. This led to an Air Transport Pilot LicenseInstrument Rating (ATPL-IR). Organisations Thomas is a member of the French Aeronautics and Astronautics Association (3AF) and of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). Experience From April to September 2001, Thomas was a trainee engineer with Thales Alenia Space in Cannes, France, where he developed a satellite system tool using concurrent engineering techniques. From October 2001, he worked as a spacecraft dynamics engineer on remote sensing missions for GMV S.A. in Madrid, Spain. Between 2002 and 2004, Thomas worked at the French space agency, CNES, as a research engineer on space mission autonomy. He also carried out various studies on future European ground segment design and European space technology harmonisation. From late 2002, he was a representative of CNES at the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems, working with international space agencies. Thomas has a private pilots licence and was selected in 2004 for Air Frances flight training programme. He went on to become a commercial pilot for the French airline, where he started flying the Airbus A320 in 2006. After having logged more than 2000 hours flying on commercial airliners, he became a type rating instructor on the A320 and a Crew Resource Management instructor. Thomas was selected as an ESA astronaut in May 2009. He joined ESA in September 2009 and completed basic training in November 2010. Among other duties, he is training for his Eurocom certification, which will allow him to communicate with astronauts during spaceflights.

Jean-Francois Clervoy, Astronaut of the European Space Agency (ESA)

Personal data Born on 19 November 1958 in Longeville-les-Metz, France Jean-Franois Clervoy considers Toulouse, France, to be his hometown. He is married to Laurence Boulanger and they have two children. JeanFranois enjoys racquet sports, canyoning, skiing and enjoys hobbies such as flying boomerangs, Frisbees and kites. Education

1976: baccalaureate from the Collge Militaire de Saint Cyr lEcole 1978: he gained two mathematics degrees at the Prytane Militaire, La Flche, France 1981: graduated from Ecole Polytechnique, Paris, France 1983: graduated from Ecole Nationale Suprieure de lAronautique et de lEspace, Toulouse, France 1987: graduated as Flight Test Engineer from Ecole du Personnel Navigant dEssais et de Rception, Istres, France Jean-Franois is an Ingnieur Gnral de lArmement in the French DGA defence procurement agency

Organisations

Member of the Association of Space Explorers Distinguished member of the French Aeronautics and Astronautics Association Permanent member of the Air and Space Academy Corresponding member of the International Academy of Astronautics Ambassador of sustainable development park EANA in Normandy, France

Patron of the marine life preservation non-profit association Te mana o te moana in French Polynesia

Special honours

Three NASA Space Flight Medals Two NASA Exceptional Service Medals. Officier de lordre national de la Lgion dhonneur Chevalier de lordre national du Mrite Komarov and Koroliev Awards from the Fdration Aronautique Internationale

Experience In 1983 Jean-Franois was seconded from the Dlgation Gnrale pour LArmement (DGA) to French space agency CNES where he worked on autopilot systems for various projects such as the SPOT Earth observation satellite, the STAR optical intersatellite space link and the Vega comet probe. He was selected for the second group of French astronauts in 1985 and started intensive Russian language training. From 1987 to 1992 he directed the parabolic flight programme at the Flight Test Center in Brtigny-sur-Orge, France, and provided technical support to the European human space program at ESAs Hermes crew office in Toulouse. From 1983 to 1987, Jean-Franois also lectured on signal processing and general mechanics at the Ecole Nationale Suprieure de lAronautique et de lEspace, Toulouse. In 1991, Jean-Franois trained in Star City, Russia, on Soyuz and Mir. In 1992, he joined the ESA astronaut corps at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany. In August 1992 Jean-Franois was detached to the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, USA, qualifying as a Space Shuttle mission specialist. Between spaceflights, Jean-Franois was assigned as flight software verification lead in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory and as robotics display design lead for the Space Shuttle. After his third spaceflight, he was assigned as the International Space Station display integration lead in NASAs Astronaut Office. Jean-Franois flew twice on the Space Shuttle Atlantis and once on Discovery, spending a total of 675 hours in space. From 2001 through 2008 he was assigned as Senior Advisor Astronaut for ESAs Automated Transfer Vehicle in Les Mureaux, France. In 2008, he was appointed member of the selection board for the new ESA astronaut class. Jean-Franois has military and civilian parachuting licences, military and civilian scuba-diving licences, and a private pilots licence. Publication Jean-Franois wrote the book Histoire(s) dEspace about his mission to the Hubble space telescope. Spaceflight experience

STS-66 314 November 1994: the Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science-3 (ATLAS-3) mission was part of a programme to determine Earths energy balance and atmospheric change over an 11-year solar cycle. Jean-Franois used the Space Shuttles robotic arm to deploy the atmospheric research satellite Crista-SPAS. He logged 262 hours and 34 minutes in space over 175 Earth orbits. STS-84 1524 May 1997: NASAs sixth Space Shuttle mission to dock with Russias Mir space sta tion. As payload commander, Jean-Franois primary tasks were to run more than 20 experiments, operate the docking system and the Spacehab module as well as transfer 4 tonnes of equipment between Space Shuttle Atlantis and Mir. He trained as backup spacewalker on this mission. Jean-Franois logged 221 hours and 20 minutes in space over 144 Earth orbits. STS-103 1927 December 1999: the primary objectives was to repair the Hubble space telescope after its gyroscopes had failed. Jean-Franois was flight engineer. He used the robotic arm to capture and redeploy the telescope, and to manoeuvre his crew mates during their three spacewalks. JeanFranois logged 191 hours and 11 minutes in space over 120 Earth orbits. Current assignment Jean-Franois is a member of the ESA Astronaut Corps, based at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany. As part of his duties, Jean-Franois provides support to the human spaceflight programme, the communications department and the sustainable development office. He is also Chairman of Novespace, a subsidiary of Frances CNES space agency in charge of the parabolic flight programme that uses an A300 aircraft based in Bordeaux-Mrignac, France.

Pedro Duque

Personal data

Pedro Duque was born on 14 March 1963 in Madrid, Spain. He is married and has three children. Pedro enjoys diving, swimming and cycling. Education Pedro graduated with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Escuela Tcnica Superior de Ingenieros Aeronuticos at the Universidad Politcnica in Madrid in 1986. Organisations Spanish Academy of Engineering. Special Honours

Order of Friendship awarded by Russian President Boris Yeltsin March 1995 Great Cross of Aeronautical Merit awarded by the King of Spain in February 1999 Principe de Asturias prize for International Cooperation shared with three other astronauts

Experience Pedro joined the Grupo Mecnica del Vuelo in 1986 and worked at ESAs European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt, Germany, to support the Precise Orbit Determination Group. Until 1992, he worked on developing models for orbit determination and algorithms, and implementing orbit computation software. Pedro was also part of the Flight Control Team for ESAs ERS-1 satellite and Eureca, the European Retrievable Carrier. In May 1992 Pedro was selected to join ESAs Astronaut Corps based at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany. He completed the Introductory and Basic Training Programmes at EAC and a four-week training programme at the Russian Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star City, Russia. In August 1993, Pedro returned to Star City to train for the ESARussian EuroMir-94 mission. During that mission, which took place from 3 October to 4 November 1994, Pedro was the prime Crew Interface Coordinator in the Russian Mission Control Centre in Moscow. He served as coordinator between the astronauts on Mir and the European scientists. In May 1995, NASA selected Pedro as an Alternate Payload Specialist for the STS-78 Space Shuttle Life and Microgravity Spacelab mission that flew in June 1996. During the 17-day mission, Pedro was one of the two Crew Interface Coordinators, communicating with researchers on Earth and the astronauts on Space Shuttle Columbia about the experiments. ESA flew five major facilities on the mission and was responsible for more than half of the experiments performed. In August 1996, Pedro entered the Mission Specialist Class at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston, USA. This training led to his certification as Mission Specialist in April 1998, qualifying him for assignments on the Space Shuttle.

In 1999, Pedro was assigned to ESAs technical heart, ESTEC, in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, supporting the Module Projects Division in what was then the Directorate of Manned Spaceflight and Microgravity. Pedro worked on Europes Columbus laboratory and the Cupola module on the International Space Station as crew support until 2002 and returned to this task several months after his second flight. Pedro reviewed their design from the point of view of operations and maintenance, evaluated ergonomics and evaluated displays and procedures as well as participating in safety reviews. In April 2001 Pedro was assigned to the first International Space Station advanced training class to 2003, when he qualified for one of the first European long-term missions to the Space Station. Pedro was seconded by ESA as Director of Operations of the Spanish User Support and operations Centre in Madrid, which is managed by the Instituto da Riva and Universidad Politcnica de Madrid. He managed the implementation and first operations of the Centre until 2006. In October 2006, Duque took special leave from ESA to head an Earth observation project. He led Deimos Imaging S.L. (DMI) until 2011, first as Managing Director and then as Executive President. DMI is a private company that runs a commercial Earth observation system with its own satellite and ground stations. Spaceflight experience Pedro flew as Mission Specialist on the Space Shuttle Discovery for STS-95 mission from 29 October to 7 November 1998. The nine-day mission was dedicated to research in weightlessness and the study of the Sun. Pedro was responsible for the five ESA scientific facilities and for the computer system on the Space Shuttle. From 18 to 28 October 2003, Pedro flew the 10-day Cervantes mission on the International Space Station. He was Flight Engineer on the Soyuz-TMA as part of Expedition 8 and landed back on Earth as part of Expedition 7. Pedro ran an extensive experiment programme in life and physical sciences, Earth observation, education and technology, including experiments in the Microgravity Science Glovebox, a research facility developed in Europe. Current assignment In October 2011 Duque returned to ESA after his special leave as membe r of ESAs Astronaut Corps. He is now Head of the Flight Operations Office. This Office, located at the Columbus Control Centre near Munich, Germany, supervises the work of a missions flight controller and supports personnel that perform ground operations of the European module on the International Space Station and its utilisation programme.

Reinhold Ewald

Personal data Born 18 December 1956 in Mnchengladbach, Germany, Reinhold Ewald is married and has three children. He enjoys reading and spending time with his family and performs with an amateur theatre group. He also plays soccer and holds a black belt in karate. Education Reinhold received a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from the University of Cologne in 1977 and a Master of Science degree in Experimental Physics in 1983. He graduated in 1986 with a PhD in Physics and a minor degree in human physiology. Organisations Member of the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (German Physics Society) and the Association of Space Explorers. He is a Full Member of the International Academy of Astronautics. Special honours Reinhold received Russias Order of Friendship in 1992 and Russias Medal for Personal Courage in 1997, awarded by President Yeltsin of the Russian Federation. In 2011 he received the Russian medal for Achievements in Spaceflight. He was awarded the German Federal Cross of Merit (First Class) in 1997.

Experience From 1983 to 1987 Reinhold was a research scientist with the University of Cologne on a German academic research federation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) project to assemble and use a 3 mdiameter radio telescope at the Gornergrat Observatory at an altitude of 3100 m near Zermatt, Switzerland. His research topics were the structure and dynamics of interstellar molecular clouds, which are thought to be the birthplace of new stars. In 1987 Reinhold joined the DLR German Aerospace Center. He managed several projects in extraterrestrial science, including the SOFIA airborne stratospheric observatory, and various experiments launched on sounding rockets from the Esrange facility in Sweden. He then became the coordinator for spaceflight in DLRs planning department. In 1990 he joined the German national astronaut team and took up training for the GermanRussian Mir 92 mission at the Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star City, Russia. As backup astronaut for Mir 92, launched 17 March 1992, he served as Crew Interface Coordinator at the Russian mission control centre, TsUP, in Korolev, providing communications between the crew in orbit and the project management and scientists on the ground. After the mission, he returned to Germany as the Deputy Head of DLRs Astronaut Office and supported the Spacelab-D2 mission on the Space Shuttle (STS-55, AprilMay 1993). In 1993 Reinhold was appointed assistant to the Director of DLRs Space Programme. He was responsible for extraterrestrial, spaceflight and microgravity programmes. In 1995 he returned to Star City, Russia, to train for the second GermanRussian mission Mir 97. From 1998 to 2002 Reinhold lectured part-time on spaceflight operations at the Technical University of Munich. He has lectured at the International Space University in Strasbourg. In February 1999 he joined ESAs European Astronaut Corps at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany. Reinhold was the Crew Operations Manager for two Soyuz taxi missions with ESA astronauts to the International Space Station in 2002. As ESAs Operations Manager from a duty station in ESTEC, the Netherlands, he then directed the two nationally-sponsored Soyuz missions in 2003 and 2004. From 2004 he was responsible for the development of European and international operations interface procedures. He was also responsible for qualifying and forming industry teams that delivered the European Columbus module to the International Space Station, as well as its operations. In 2005 he was appointed Head of the International Space Station Mission Integration and Operations Division in the ESA Directorate of Operations and Infrastructure with a permanent duty station in Munich. In this function, from July to December 2006, as ESAs Operations Manager, he supervised

preparation and flight operations in the Munich control centre for the first long-duration mission of an ESA astronaut on the International Space Station. Called Astrolab, it was a precursor to Columbus operations. Reinhold led the ESA operations management team during the STS-122/1E mission, which delivered Europes Columbus laboratory module to the Station in February 2008. Reinhold reported to ESAs International Space Station Programme Manager. When Columbus operations began in 2008 and until March 2011 Reinhold was ESAs lead person at the Columbus Control Centre and interacted with the Industrial Operations Team and their representatives in Mission Integration, Executive Planning and Mission Operations services to assure adherence of operations to ESAs Space Station programme. As head of ESAs International Space Station Mission Integration and Operations Division, he oversaw day-to-day Columbus operations handled by the groups Mission Directors. Reinhold lectures at the Technical University of Aachen and regularly teaches at the International Space University in Strasbourg. He has chaired sessions of the Space Science Programme team projects at the International Space University. Since February 2012 he has been a member of universitys Adjunct Faculty. Spaceflight experience Mir 97 was the second GermanRussian mission on Russias Mir space station, from 10 February to 2 March 1997. Reinhold was a research cosmonaut on the Russian Soyuz TM-25 spacecraft and spent 18 days on Mir. He performed experiments in biomedical and material sciences and carried out operational tests to prepare for missions to the International Space Station. He returned in Soyuz TM24. Current assignment Reinhold is Advisor to ESAs Head of Director Generals Cabinet, working at the European Astronaut Centre and at ESAs headquarters in Paris.

Personal data Born 28 April 1957, in Biarritz, France, Lopold Eyharts is married and has one child. His hobbies include jogging, mountain biking, tennis, reading and working with computers. Education Lopold graduated as an engineer from the French Air Force Academy of Salon-de-Provence in 1979. He qualified as a fighter pilot in Tours, France in 1980 and graduated from the EPNER French test pilot school in Istres in 1988. Special honours Lopold has been decorated as Officer of the French Lgion dHonneur and Chevalier de lOrdre National du Mrite. He was awarded the Mdaille dOutre-Mer, the Silver Medal of the Dfense Nationale and the Russian medals for Friendship and Courage. Experience Lopold joined the French Air Force Academy of Salon-de-Provence and graduated as an aeronautical engineer in 1979. In 1980 he became a fighter pilot assigned to an operational Jaguar A squadron in Istres Air Force Base in France. In 1985, he became a flight commander at Saint-Dizier Air Force base. In 1988 he was assigned to the Brtigny-sur-Orge Flight Test Centre near Paris, France, and promoted to Chief Test Pilot in 1990.

Lopold has logged 3800 hours flying time on over 50 types of aircraft and 21 parachute jumps including one ejection[JH1] . He holds a commission [JH2] as General in the French Air Force. In 1990, Lopold was selected as an astronaut by Frances CNES space agency and assigned to the Hermes spacecraft programme managed in Toulouse, France. He was also one of the test pilots and engineer in charge of CNES parabolic flight programme with the Caravelle aircraft and carried out Airbus A300 qualification flights. Lopold had two training sessions at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre near Moscow, Russia, in 1991 and 1993. He took part in an evaluation of the Buran [JH3] Space Shuttle training in Moscow, where he flew in the Tupulev 154 Buran simulator. Lopold was part of the selection process for new ESA astronauts in 1992. In July 1994, Lopold was assigned as backup crew for the FrenchRussian Cassiope spaceflight, which took place in August 1996. In December 1996 he was selected for CNES mission Pegase, which took place from 29 January to 19 February 1998. In August 1998, Lopold joined ESAs Astronaut Corps based at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany. He was assigned to train at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston, USA, where he became part of the 1998 Mission Specialist Class. Lopold received technical assignments from NASAs Astronaut Office at the Johnson Space Center. He worked in the International Space Station Operations Branch as a section chief for Space Station systems, software and on board information technology. Lopold was assigned as backup of astronaut Thomas Reiter for ESA's first long-duration mission to the International Space Station. From October 2004 Lopold trained with American and Russian backup crewmembers at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre near Moscow and at NASAs Johnson Space Center. Spaceflight experience Lopolds first spaceflight was to Russias Mir space station from 29 January to 19 February 1998. During this FrenchRussian Pegase mission, he ran experiments in medical research, neuroscience, biology, fluid physics and technology. Lopolds second spaceflight was an almost two-month mission to the International Space Station to deliver Europes Columbus laboratory. He flew to the Station on Space Shuttle Atlantis on STS-122 with ESA astronaut Hans Schlegel. They were launched on 7 February 2008. Lopold returned to Earth with Space Shuttle STS-123 on 27 March. One of Lopolds tasks as a member of Expedition 16 was to support the docking of the Eur opean Columbus space laboratory as well as to activate the module and its scientific racks. Lopold also contributed to international scientific experiments and maintained Station equipment.

When STS-123 arrived at the International Space Station on 13 March 2008, Lopold changed crew again. As a qualified mission specialist in robotics he then contributed to the STS-123 assembly mission as operator of the Stations robotic arm. Working with other astronauts, Lopold installed Japans Experiment Logistics Module and assembled and activated Canadas Dextre robotic arm. Lopold was the second ESA astronaut to become a resident Station crewmember.

Personal data Born on 18 March 1957 in Stockholm, Sweden, Christer Fuglesang is married to the former Elisabeth Walldie; they have three children. Christer enjoys sports, sailing, skiing, reading and playing Frisbee and games. Education Christer graduated from the Bromma Gymnasium, Stockholm in 1975 and received a Master of Science in engineering physics from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) based in Stockholm, in 1981. He received a doctorate in experimental particle physics in 1987 and became an associate professor in particle physics in 1991 at the University of Stockholm. He was appointed Affiliated Professor at KTH in 2006. Special honours

1999: Honorary Doctorate from Ume University, Sweden 2007: Honorary Doctorate from the University of Nova Gorica, Slovenia 2007 and 2009: NASA Space Flight Medal 2007: HM The Kings Medal in Sweden

Personal data Born on 6 April 1957 in Milan, Italy, Paolo Nespolis hometown is Verano Brianza, Milan, Italy. He enjoys scuba diving, piloting aircraft, assembling computer hardware, electronic equipment and computer software. Education Paolo received a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering in 1988 and a Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1989 from the Polytechnic University of New York. He was awarded the Laurea in Ingegneria Meccanica by the Universit degli Studi di Firenze, Italy, in 1990. Qualifications and licences Civilian: professional engineer, private pilot, advanced scuba diver and nitrox diver. Military: master parachutist, parachute instructor, jump master, high-altitude low opening, Special Forces operator. Special honours Team achievement awards for space mission Mir-97 (DLR German Aerospace Center), space mission EuroMir-95 (ESA), NASAMir programme (NASA), space mission EuroMir-94 (ESA), Bedrest Experiment (ESACNES), Columbus Utilisation Simulation (ESA).

Experience Paolo was drafted by the Italian army in 1977 and became a non-commissioned officer working as a parachute instructor at the Scuola Militare di Paracadutismo of Pisa. In 1980 he joined the 9 Btg dAssalto Col Moschin of Livorno, where he became a Special Forces operator. From 1982 to 1984, he was assigned to the Italian contingent of the Multinational Peacekeeping Force in Beirut, Lebanon. Following his return to Italy he was appointed an officer and continued working as a Special Forces operator. Paolo resumed his university studies in 1985. He left active army duty in 1987. Upon completing his MSc in 1989, he returned to Italy to work as a design engineer for Proel Tecnologie in Florence, where he conducted mechanical analysis and supported the qualification of the flight units of the Electron Gun Assembly, one of the main parts of the Italian space agencys Tethered Satellite System. In 1991 he worked for ESA's European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany. As an astronaut training engineer, he contributed to basic training for the European astronauts. Paolo was responsible for the preparation and management of astronaut proficiency maintenance as well as the Astronaut Training Database, a system used for astronaut training. In 1995, he worked on the EuroMir project at ESAs ESTEC establishment in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, where he was responsible for the team that prepared, integrated and supported the Payload and Crew Support Computer used on Russias Mir space station. In 1996, Paolo went to NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston, USA, where he worked in the Spaceflight Training Division on training crew for the International Space Station. In July 1998, Paolo was selected as an astronaut by Italys ASI space agency, and a month later, joined ESAs European Astronaut Corps, based at the European Astronaut Centre. In August 1998, he relocated to NASAs Johnson Space Center i n Houston, Texas, and was assigned to the 17th NASA astronaut class. In 2000 he qualified for a mission on the US Space Shuttle and to fly on the International Space Station. In July 2001, he completed the Space Shuttle robotics arm course and, in September 2003, completed advanced skills training for spacewalks. In August 2004, he was assigned to the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star City, near Moscow, Russia, where he followed the initial training for the Soyuz spacecraft. Paolo returned to NASAs astronaut office in Houston, where he maintained his qualifications and attended further courses. He also carried out technical duties for NASA, ESA and ASI. In June 2006, Paolo was assigned to Space Shuttle mission STS-120. Spaceflight experience

From 23 October to 7 November 2007, Paolo flew as a Mission Specialist on Space ShuttleDiscovery for the STS-120 flight to the International Space Station. This mission delivered and installed Node-2, a major building block essential for further expansion of the Station. Another important task was to relocate one of the four solar arrays that provide power to the Station. Paolo played a key role inside the Station for the missions spacewalks, including the installation of Node -2. During his Esperia mission, Paolo performed a number of experiments for the European scientific community in human physiology and biology. Paolo also took part in educational activities. In November 2008, Paolo Nespoli was assigned to his second spaceflight, Expedition 26/27. The longduration mission to the International Space Station was launched on 15 December 2010. Paolos duties as a flight engineer during his MagISStra mission included scientific experiments and technology demonstrations, as well as performing educational activities. After having spent 159 days in space, he returned to Earth on 24 May 2011.

Experience As a graduate student, Christer worked at the European Research Centre on Particle Physics (CERN) in Geneva on the UA5 experiment studying protonantiproton collisions. In 1988, he became a Fellow of CERN, where he worked on the CPLEAR experiment studying the subtle CP-violation of Kaon particles. A year later, Christer became a Senior Fellow and head of the particle identification subdetector. In November 1990, Fuglesang obtained a position at the Manne Siegbahn Institute of Physics, Stockholm, but remained at CERN for another year working on the Large Hadron Collider project. Since 1980, when he was based in Sweden, Christer has taught mathematics at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology. In May 1992, Christer joined the ESA Astronaut Corps based at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany. He followed the introductory training programme at EAC and a four-week training programme at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre (GCTC) in Star City, Russia, as part of the ESARussian collaboration on the Mir space station. In July 1993, he completed basic training at EAC. In May 1993, Christer and fellow ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter were selected for the EuroMir-95 mission and started training at GCTC to prepare for their flight engineer tasks, spacewalks and Soyuz spacecraft operations. In March 1995, Christer was selected as a member of Crew 2 for EuroMir-95, joining Gennadi Manakov and Pavel Vinogradov. The mission lasted from 3 September to 29 February 1996. Christer was the prime Crew Interface Coordinator working at the Russian Mission Control Centre in Kaliningrad, Russia. Between March and June 1996, Christer followed specialised training on Soyuz operations for undocking, reentry and landing of the Russian spacecraft.

In August 1996, Christer entered the Mission Specialist Class at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston, USA. He qualified for flight assignment as a Mission Specialist in April 1998. From May to October 1998, Christer resumed training at GCTC on Soyuz-TM spacecraft operations for undocking, reentry and landing. He was awarded the Soyuz Return Commander certificate, qualifying him to command a three-person Soyuz capsule on its return from space. In October 1998, he returned to NASA Johnson and was assigned to technical duties in NASAs Astronaut Office. He worked with Russian spacecraft such as the Soyuz and Progress and then as Crew Support Astronaut for Expedition 2 to the International Space Station. Afterwards he worked on equipment for the International Space Station and on spacewalks. Christer continued doing scientific work and was involved in the SilEye experiment that investigated flashes perceived in astronauts eyes on Mir between 1995 and 1999. The work continued on the International Space Station with the Alteino detector and the ALTEA facility. Christer also initiated the DESIRE Project that simulated and estimated radiation in the Space Station. In May 2010, Christer took over as Head of Science and Application Division within the Directorate of Human Spaceflight and Operations at ESAs technical heart, ESTEC, in the Netherlands. Spaceflight experience From 9 to 22 December 2006, Christer Fuglesang flew as Mission Specialist on Space ShuttleDiscoveryfor STS-116 to the International Space Station. He became the first Swedish astronaut to fly in space. During his Celsius mission, Christer conducted three spacewalks. His tasks were to attach new hardware to the Station and to reconfigure the Stations electrical power system. The unscheduled third spacewalk freed the Stations jammed P6 solar array. His total spacewalk time during the mission was 18 hours 14 minutes. Christers second spaceflight lasted from 29 August to 12 September 2009. He was Mission Specialist on Space ShuttleDiscoveryfor STS-128 to the International Space Station. On this Aliss mission, Christer made two spacewalks, installing an ammonia tank and preparing for the installation of the European-built Node-3 module. He spent 13 hours and 40 minutes spacewalking, bringing his total time spent spacewalking to 31 hours and 54 minutes. Christer was also responsible for overseeing cargo transfers from the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module that was brought to the Station inDiscovery. Christer also performed experiments and educational and public relations activities. Current assignment Christer is seconded to the Swedish KTH Royal Institute of Technology in the Department of Physics and the Department of Aeronautical and Vehicle Engineering teaching particle physics and human spaceflight.

Personal data Born on 3 August 1951 in berlingen, Germany, Hans Schlegel considers Aachen to be his hometown. Hans is married to astronaut candidate Heike Walpot. He has seven children. Recreational interests include skiing, scuba diving and flying. He also enjoys reading and do-it-yourself work. During 197072 Hans served as a paratrooper with the Federal Armed Forces. He left with the rank of second lieutenant, and after several reserve trainings, he was appointed reserve lieutenant in 1980. In 197986 he worked as an experimental Solid State Physicist at the Rheinisch Westflische Technische Hochschule at the University of Aachen and researched electronic transport properties and optical properties of semiconductors. During 198688 he was a specialist in non-destructive testing methodology in the research and development department of the Institut Dr. Frster Gmbh & Co. KG in Reutlingen, Germany. From 1988 to 1990 Hans performed basic astronaut training at the DLR German Aerospace Center. The training included about 1300 parabolas to experience weightlessness on a KC-135 aircraft. He became a certified research diver and holds a private pilots licence, including instrument rating and aerobatics. In 1990 he was assigned as a payload specialist for the Spacelab-D2 mission and started Payload Training in Cologne, Germany and at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The second German Spacelab mission took place from 26 April to 6 May 1993 as part of mission STS-55 on Space Shuttle Columbia.

In August 1995 Hans went to the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Moscow, Russia, to train as backup for the GermanRussian Mir-97 mission. During the mission from 10 February to 2 March 1997 he was Crew Interface Coordinator responsible for ground-to-air communications. Between June 1997 and January 1998 he received additional training and certification as a flight engineer for Russias Mir space station. In 1998 Hans joined ESAs Astronaut Corps. In August 1998, ESA sent him to the Johnson Space Center to train as a Mission Specialist with NASAs Astronaut Class of 1998. He was also assigned to the Capcom Branch of the Astronaut Office, speaking to astronauts on the International Space Station. He worked as lead Capcom and as Space Station Capcom Instructor. In July 2006 Hans was assigned to the STS-122 Shuttle mission that delivered ESAs Columbus Laboratory to the International Space Station. Spaceflight experience From 26 April to 6 May 1993, Schlegel was Payload Specialist on Space Shuttle Columbia STS-55 Spacelab-D2 mission. Nearly 90 experiments in life sciences, material sciences, physics, robotics, astronomy, Earth and its atmosphere were conducted during Spacelab D2. Hans second spaceflight, STS-122, launched 7 February 2008 on Space Shuttle Atlantis ended on 20 February 2008. The highlight was the delivery and installation of ESAs Columbus laboratory, Europes major contribution to the International Space Station. Hans performed a spacewalk that lasted nearly seven hours to help prepare the space laboratory for its scientific experiments, and replaced an empty nitrogen tank on the Stations P1 Truss.

Personal data Born on 15 October 1964 in Viterbo, Italy, Roberto Vittori is married to the former Valeria Nardi of Citta di Castello, Italy; they have three children. Roberto enjoys soccer, running, swimming and reading. Education

Roberto graduated from the Italian Air Force Academy in 1989 with a degree in Aeronautical Science Completed basic training with the US Air Force at Reese Air Force Base in Texas, US, in 1990 Graduated from the US Navy Test Pilot School in 1995 Completed the Italian Air Forces Accident Prevention course (Guidonia AFB, Italy) and Accident Investigation course (Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, US) between 1996 and 1997 Graduated from the NATO Defense College Senior Course 108 in 2006 Completed a masters degree in physics in December 2007 Academic award at the Undergraduate Pilot Training, Reese Air Force Base, Texas, US Honour student at the Test Pilot School, Patuxent River, Maryland, US Honour student at the US Flight Safety School, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, US Italian Air Force Long Service Medal (1997) Gold Medal to the Aeronautical Value awarded by the President of the Italian Republic (2002) Special recognition as Commendatore della Repubblica awarded by the President of the Italian Republic (2005).

Special honours

Experience Following graduation from pilot training in 1990, Roberto Vittori flew Tornado GR1 aircraft with the 155th Squadron, 50th Wing, Piacenza, Italy from 1991 to 1994. During that time, he qualified for day and night air-to-air refuelling as well as a formation leader. In 1995, he completed the US Navy Test Pilot School training. He then served at the Italian Test Centre as project pilot for the development of the new European aircraft, the EuroFighter EF2000, until 1998. From 1996 to 1998, he was the national representative in the Beyond Visual Range Air-toAir Missile research and development programme. In 1997, he attended the US Air Force Flight Safety School. From 1997 to 1998, Roberto was wing Flight Safety Officer at the Italian Test Centre. He was also a teacher of aerodynamics for the Italian Air Forces Accident Investigation Course. Roberto Vittori is a colonel in the Italian Air Force. He has logged nearly 2000 hours in over 40 different aircraft, including F-104, Tornado GR1, F-18, AMX, M-2000, G-222 and P-180. In July 1998, he was selected as an astronaut by Italys ASI space agency in cooperation with ESA and, one month later, he joined ESAs Astronaut Corps, based at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany.

In August 1998, Roberto was relocated to NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston, USA, and entered the 1998 Astronaut class for assignments on the Space Shuttle and International Space Station. Roberto completed his Mission Specialist training and performed technical duties in the Space Shuttle Operations Systems Branch, Robotics, Future Vehicle and International Space Station Branch. In August 2001, he took up training as flight engineer at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star City, Russia, in preparation for his first spaceflight. In August 2002, Roberto returned to Johnson Space Center, where he supported the New Generation Space Vehicles Branch. After Space Shuttle Columbia was lost, Roberto served in the Tiger Teams accident investigation. In October 2004, Roberto took up training again at Star City for his second mission to the International Space Station. Between February 2006 and August 2008, he was detached to the Italian Air Force under an agreement with ESA. During the detachment he served on the Board of ASIs Technical Scientific Committee. Spaceflight experience From 25 April to 5 May 2002, Roberto participated in a taxi-flight to the International Space Station, under an agreement between Roscosmos, ASI and ESA. This mission served to deliver a new Soyuz spacecraft and emergency escape vessel to the Station. His second mission to the International Space Station, the Italian Eneide mission took place 1525 April 2005. As Soyuz flight engineer on launch and return, Roberto had an active role in piloting and docking the spacecraft. On the International Space Station, he Roberto performed an intensive programme of experiments. Robertos third mission, on Shuttle STS-134, was an assembly mission to the International Space Station from 16 May to 1 June 2011. His DAMA mission was provided by ASI in agreement with NASA. The Shuttle delivered the Express Logistics Carrier, but the main task was to install the AMS-02 cosmic-ray detector to examine dark matter and the origin of the Universe. Roberto grappled the sixtonne AMS-02 with the Space Shuttles robotic arm and moved it to the Station for installation. This was the final flight of Space Shuttle Endeavour.

Frank De Winne

Personal data Born in Ghent, Belgium on 25 April 1961, Frank De Winne is married to Lena Clarke and has three children. He enjoys football, fishing and gastronomy. Education

1979: graduated from the Royal School of Cadets, Lier, Belgium 1984: awarded the AIA Prize for the best thesis on his masters degree in telecommunications and civil engineering from the Royal Military Academy, Brussels, Belgium 1991: completed the Staff Course at the Defence College in Brussels, gaining the highest distinction 1992: graduated from the Empire Test Pilots School in Boscombe Down, United Kingdom, where he was awarded the McKenna Trophy

Organisations

Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF Belgium Chairman of the Forum Space and Education Member of the SESAR Scientific Committee

Special honours

1997: first non-American pilot to receive the Joe Bill Dryden Semper Viper Award for demonstrating exceptional skills during a flight

1999: appointed Officier in de Orde van Oranje Nassau by the Dutch Queen for showing leadership during operation Allied Force 2003: awarded the Medal of Friendship by the Russian Federation 2003: received an honorary doctorate from the University of Limburg

Experience After completing his pilot training with the Belgian Air Force in 1986, Frank flew Mirage V aircraft. He was detached to SAGEM in Paris, France in 1989 where he worked on the Mirage Safety Improvement Programme. He was responsible for preparing operational and technical specifications. In December 1992, Frank was appointed to the Test and Evaluation branch of the Belgian Air Force. As a test pilot, he was involved in an electronic warfare programme on the F16 called CARAPACE at Eglin Air Force Base, USA, and a Self-Protection Programme for the C130 aircraft. During that period, he also flew from Gosselies in Charleroi, Belgium, as a reception pilot in different types of aircraft. From January 1994 to April 1995, Frank was responsible for the flight safety programme of the 1st Fighter Wing at Beauvechain, Belgium. From April 1995 to July 1996, as a senior test pilot in the European Participating Air Forces, when he was detached to Edwards Air Force Base, California, USA, he worked on an update of the F16 aircraft, focusing on radar testing. From 1996 to August 1998, Frank was a senior test pilot in the Belgian Air Force, responsible for all test programmes and for all pilotvehicle interfaces for aircraft and aircraft software updates. From August 1998 to January 2000, Frank was the Squadron Commander of the 349th Fighter Squadron at Kleine Brogel Airbase, Belgium. During operation Allied Force, Frank was the detachment commander of the Deployable Air Task Force, a combined Belgian/Dutch detachment that flew about 2000 sorties during the NATO campaign. Frank has logged 17 combat sorties. Frank has logged more than 2300 hours flying time on several high-performance aircraft, including the Mirage, F16, Jaguar and Tornado. In January 2000, Frank joined ESAs Astronaut Corps based at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany. He provided technical support for the X38 Crew Return Vehicle project, located at ESA's research and technology centre, ESTEC, in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. Spaceflight experience

From 30 October to 10 November 2002, Frank flew the Odissea mission, a support flight to the International Space Station. He served as a flight engineer on the updated Soyuz TMA spacecraft on launch, and on a Soyuz TM for reentry. Franks prime task of the 11-day mission was to replace the Soyuz TM-34 vehicle attached to the Space Staion with the new Soyuz TMA-1. During his nine days spent on the Space Station, Frank ran 23 experiments in life and physical sciences and education, including experiments in Europes Microgravity Science Glovebox. The mission was sponsored by the Belgian Federal Office for Scientific, Technical and Cultural Affairs. From 27 May to 1 December 2009 Frank was sent on the OasISS mission, a long-duration flight to the International Space Station. As part of Expedition 21 Frank became the first European commander of the orbital outpost. He was also Soyuz TMA-15 and Expedition 20 flight engineer. One of Franks key tasks during the mission was to operate the Stations robotic arm to dock Japans first HTV cargo vehicle. He was also the main operator of the Japanese robotic arm, used to transfer experiments to Japans external payload facility on the countrys Kibo Laboratory. More than 1000 crew hours were dedicated to science. Special events were also hel d to support UNICEFs Belgium WaSH campaign. Frank chaired the technical committee of the second EUESA Space Exploration Conference in Brussels in 2010. Current assignment Head of the European Astronaut Centre since 1 August 2012.

Personal data Born on 5 October 1958 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Andr Kuipers is married with three daughters and a son. Enjoys flying, scuba diving, skiing, hiking, travelling and history. Education In 1977 Andr graduated from the Van der Waals Lyceum (now the Amstel Lyceum) in Amsterdam. Andr received a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Amsterdam in 1987. Organisations

Member of the Aerospace Medical Association Member of the Dutch Aviation Medicine Society Member of the Dutch Association for Spaceflight Ambassador for the World Wildlife Fund

Special honours Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau. Experience

During his medical studies, Andr worked in the Vestibular Department of the Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where he was involved in research on the equilibrium system. In 1987 and 1988, as an officer of the Royal Netherlands Air Force Medical Corps, he studied incidents caused by disorientation in pilots of high-performance aircraft. In 1989 and 1990, he worked for the Research and Development department of the Netherlands Aerospace Medical Centre in Soesterberg. He was involved in research on the Space Adaptation Syndrome, contact lenses for pilots, vestibular apparatus, blood pressure and cerebral blood flow in both high-acceleration conditions in a human centrifuge and in microgravity conditions in aeroplanes. In addition, he performed medical examinations of pilots and monitored human centrifuge training as well as teaching pilots physiological aspects of flying. From 1991 Andr was involved in the preparation, coordination, baseline data collection and ground control of physiological ESA experiments for space missions. In particular, he was a project scientist for Anthrorack, a human physiology facility that flew on the Spacelab-D2 mission in 1993, and for two experiments on lung and bone physiology that flew on the Mir space station during the EuroMir-95 mission. Andr was then involved in the development of the Torque Velocity Dynamometer that flew on the LMS Spacelab mission in 1996, the Muscle Atrophy Research and Exercise System (MARES) to research muscles on the International Space Station, and an electronic muscle stimulator (PEMS) for astronauts. In July 1999, Andr joined the ESAs Astronaut Corps, based at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany. Andr was assigned to ESAs technical heart, ESTEC, in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, continuing his work on microgravity experiments. Until he started training for his spaceflight, Andr supported a research programme in physiological adaptation to weightlessness in humans. He coordinated European experiments on lung function and blood pressure regulation using ESAs Advanced Respiratory Monitoring System (ARMS), launched on Space Shuttle mission STS-107. Andr continued to support ESAs parabolic flight campaigns. He flew on these flights as an experiment operator, technician, test subject and flight surgeon. In 2002, Andr completed ESAs Basic astronaut Training Programme at EAC and the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre near Moscow, Russia. His training included lessons on International Space Station systems, winter and water survival training and spacewalk training.

During two Soyuz missions to the International Space Station with ESA astronauts, Soyuz 6S and 7S, Andr supported ESA's ground team from the Russian Control Centre TsUP as Crew Interface Coordinator. He was also backup for ESA astronaut Pedro Duques mission in October 2003. After his first spaceflight in 2004, Andr performed postflight activities and other duties at EAC and ESTEC. He supported ESA payload development, parabolic flight campaigns and healthcare spin-offs, as well as offering ground-support for missions of other ESA astronauts. Andr also qualified as a Eurocom, communicating with astronauts from Columbus Control Centre in Munich, Germany. In 2005, Andr was assigned as backup for the first Canadian International Space Station increment. He received training on the US and Russian Station modules, as well as robotics operator and spacewalk training. From 2007, Andr trained as backup to ESA astronaut Frank De Winne for Europes second long duration spaceflight to the International Space Station. He received user, operator and specialist level training on all Station modules as well as training on experiments conducted in ESAs Columbus space laboratory and training on the Europes Automated Transfer Vehicle. From May 2009, Andr was assigned to Eurocom duties at the Columbus Control Centre and EAC in support of De Winnes six-month mission. Spaceflight experience In December 2002, Andr was assigned as a Flight Engineer for a Soyuz flight to the International Space Station. The DELTA mission was sponsored by the Dutch government in an agreement between ESA and the Russian Federal Space Agency and took place 1930 April 2004. The flight had three objectives: to exchange the Soyuz spacecraft that serves as Space Station lifeboat, to exchange the Station crew and for Andr to perform 21 experiments in human physiology, biology, technology and education. In August 2009, Andr was assigned to Expedition 30/31, a long-duration mission to the International Space Station called PromISSe. Together with Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko and NASA astronaut Don Pettit, Andr was launched on 21 December 2011 from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. During his mission, he took part in around 50 experiments covering a wide range of disciplines. He was the prime crewmember for the rendezvous and docking of ESAs third Automated Transfer Vehicle. He was also involved in berthing SpaceXs Dragon ferry. Andr and his crewmates returned to Earth on 1 July 2012.

Maurizio Cheli, former ESA astronaut

(Lieutenant Colonel, Italian Air Force, Ret.) Personal data Born 4 May 1959, in Modena, Italy. Married to the former Marianne Merchez. He enjoys soccer, cycling, tennis and travelling. His mother Eulalia resides in Zocca (Modena), Italy. Her parents, Marcel and Annie Merchez, reside in Brussels, Belgium. Education He received a B.S in Aeronautical Sciences from the Italian Air Force Academy in 1982. Graduated from the Italian Air Force War College in 1987 and from the Empire Test Pilot School in 1988. Received a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Houston in 1994, a Master of Science Magna cum Laude in Political Science from the University of Torino, Italy in 2004 and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from ESCP-EAP, Paris, France in 2007. Special honours Distinguished graduate, Fighter lead-in training (1983). Top graduate, Italian Air Force War College (1987). Top graduate, Empire Test Pilot's School (1988). Commendatore of the Republic of Italy in 1996. Awards Italian Air Force Long Service Medal (1988). McKenna Trophy, Sir Alan Cobham Trophy and Hawker Hunter Trophy, Empire Test Pilots School (1988). Experience After graduation from the Italian Air Force Academy, Cheli underwent pilot training at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, in 1982-1983. Following fighter lead-in training at Holloman Air Force Base, New

Mexico and initial training in the F-104G in Italy, he joined the 28th Squadron, 3rd Recce Wing in 1984. In 1987, he attended the Italian Air Force War College and in 1988 he graduated from the Empire Test Pilot's School, Boscombe Down, United Kingdom. While assigned to the Italian Air Force Flight Test Center in Pratica di Mare, Rome, he served as a Tornado and B-707 Tanker project pilot on a variety of test programs and as display pilot. His flight experience includes more than 4500 flying hours in over 50 different types of fixed wing aircraft and helicopters. In June 1992, he was selected by ESA as a member of the second group of European astronauts. Cheli reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1992. He completed one year of training in August 1993, and was qualified for assignment as a mission specialist on future Space Shuttle flight crews. His technical assignments included: flight software verification in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL); remote manipulator system/robotics; crew equipment. He flew on STS-75 in 1996 and has logged over 377 hours in space. Maurizio Cheli left ESA on 31 July 1996. From August 1996, Cheli became Chief Test Pilot of Alenia Aeronautica in Torino, Italy, and as such worked extensively on the development programme of the Eurofighter Typhoon and on all the other programmes in which the company was involved including the development of UAVs. He has been display pilot for the Eurofighter Typhoon at the Paris Airshow in 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2005 and at several other international events. In December 2007, Cheli became Director of Operational Development at Alenia Aeronautica. While assigned to this job he still flies on all development programmes of the company.

Umberto Guidoni

Personal Data Born August 18, 1954, in Rome, Italy. He is married and has one child. Enjoys swimming, volleyball, and classical music. Education Received a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and a Doctorate in Astrophysics (Summa Cum Laude) from the University of Rome in 1978. Post-doctoral fellowship in plasma physics at the Thermonuclear Research Centre of CNEN from 1979-1980.

Special Honours NASA Space Flight Medals (STS-75 in 1996, STS-100 in 2001) Commendatore della Repubblica Award from the former Italian President Luigi Scalfaro. Grande Ufficiale della Repubblica Award from the Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.

Claudie Haigner

Personal Born 13 May 1957 in Le Creusot, France. Married with one daughter. Enjoys contemporary art (painting, sculpture), reading, and sports, especially gymnastics and golf. Education Graduation from Facult de Mdecine (Paris-Cochin) and Facult des Sciences (Paris-VII). Rheumatologist. Certificates (Certificats dEtudes Spcialises) in biology and sports medicine (1981), aviation and space medicine (1982), and rheumatology (1984). In 1986 diploma (Diplme dEtudes Approfondies) in biomechanics and physiology of movement. Ph.D thesis in neuroscience in 1992.

Organisations Honorary Member of the Socit Francaise de Mdecine Aronautique et Spatiale, Corresponding Member of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), Honorary Member and Administrateur of the Association Aronautique et Astronautique de France (AAAF), Member of the Acadmie de lAir et de lEspace (ANAE). Patron of the Cit de lEspace in Toulouse, the Institut de Myologie de la Piti -Salptrire set up by the Association Franaise contre les Myopathies (AFM), as well as of the Fondation Clarins-Arthritis. She lends her support to a number of medical associations: maison de parents for hospitalised children, lAlliance des Maladies Rares with Fondation Groupama and the Kourir association for children suffering from juvenile polyarthritis as well as to many schools and student graduate classes.

Ulf Merbold

Personal data Born in Greiz, Germany, 20 June 1941 Ulf is married and has two children. He enjoys skiing, glider flying and piano playing. Education Ulf Merbold graduated from Stuttgart University in 1968 with a diploma in physics. In 1976 he received a doctorate in Sciences (Dr.rer.nat.). Special honours Ulf Merbold has received numerous awards, including the First Class Order of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Order of Merit of the States of Baden-Wrttemberg and Nordrhein-Westfalen, the Haley Space Flight Award of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the USSR PilotCosmonaut V.M. Komarov diploma of the International Aeronautical Federation, and the distinction for scientific achievement in Air and Space Medicine from the Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Luft- und Raumfahrtmedizin. In 1983 he received the Flight Achievement Award of the American Astronautical Society and the "Order of Friendship" from President Yeltsin of the Russian Federation in 1995. The following year Ulf Merbold was awarded an honorary doctorate in engineering (Dr.-Ing. h.c.) by the RheinischWestfalische Technische Hochschule. Experience

After university, Ulf Merbold joined the Max-Planck-Institute for Metals Research in Stuttgart, first on the basis of a scholarship of the Max Planck Society and later as a staff member, where he studied state and low temperature physics, in particular experimental investigations of lattice defects in bodycentered cubic metals. In 1977, Ulf was pre-selected by ESA as a Payload Specialist for the first flight of the European-built Spacelab laboratory on the US Space Shuttle (Spacelab 1). A year later he was nominated as one of the three Payload Specialists for the mission and in 1982 was selected for flight by the ESA Director General, following a recommendation of the Principal Investigators (the scientists involved in the mission). Ulf Merbold became the first non-American to fly on the Space Shuttle during the STS-9 mission (28 November to 8 December 1983). In 1984 he was involved in the Space Shuttle Spacelab German D-1 mission, as both back-up Payload Specialist and Crew Interface Coordinator (CIC). Merbold transferred to the European Space Research and Technology Center (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, in 1986 to support ESA in the planning of Columbus, the European laboratory for the International Space Station. He was appointed Head of the DLR (German Aerospace Research Establishment) Astronaut Office in 1987 and, on the basis of a secondment to DLR, led the German astronauts and supported the preparation of the D2 mission. In December 1988 he was nominated as ESA Payload Specialist candidate for the International Microgravity Laboratory mission (IML-1) on the Space Shuttle. The IML-1 (STS-42) training programme started in April 1989 and the following January he was selected to fly as Payload Specialist on the mission which took place between 22 and 31 January 1992. During the second German D2 mission from 26 April to 6 May 1993, Ulf Merbold was Science Coordinator at the Mission Control Center in Germany. In August 1993, after preparatory courses at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC), he started training at TsPK (Cosmonauts Training Centre) in Star City near Moscow. He was selected for flight (Crew 1) for ESA's Euromir 94 mission and became the first ESA astronaut to fly on the Russian space station Mir, carrying out a 32-day mission between 3 October and 4 November, 1994. Between 1999 and 2004 Ulf Merbold was responsible for the Utilisation Promotion Management in the Microgravity Promotion Division of the ESA Directorate of Manned Spaceflight and Microgravity, at ESTEC, Noordwijk, the Netherlands. Merbold holds a commercial pilots license (CPL2) with Instrument Rating, as well as an Acrobatic license, and has logged more than 3000 hours as Pilot in Command. Spaceflight Experience Ulf Merbold flew on STS-9 (28 November to 8 December 1983) and became the first non-American to fly on a Space Shuttle mission. The primary objective of this mission was the verification of Spacelab in orbit and the execution of 72 highly sophisticated scientific experiments.

He was ESA's Payload Specialist on STS-42 (22 January - 31 January 1992), the International Microgravity Laboratory mission (IML-1) on the Space Shuttle. As a member of the payload crew he was primarily responsible for the 55 scientific experiments on the flight. Merbold was selected to fly with ESA's Euromir 94 mission (3 October - 4 November 1994) to the Russian Space Station MIR. He was the first ESA astronaut to fly on a Russian mission and performed a 32-day mission as Research Cosmonaut. He was responsible for the execution of 28 European experiments.

Born Reutlingen, Germany, 21 May 1945 Family Married to Gudrun M. Education Ernst Messerschmid graduated from the Technisches Gymnasium, Stuttgart, Germany in 1965. He studied physics at the University of Tbingen and Bonn in 1967 to 1972. After graduating, Ernst worked as a CERN Fellow (1972-1975) and as a research assistant at the University of Freiburg/Breisgau where he received his Doctors degree (1976). His doctoral thesis was on "Longitudinal Instabilities of Relativistic Proton Beams in Synchrotrons". Recreational interests Music, sailing, and outdoor activities such as golf, gardening

Affiliations As a result of his time at CERN (visiting scientist, 1970; Fellow, 1972-1975), in 1977, Ernst worked as a researcher at DESY, Hamburg, when he became interested in space technology and utilisation, and participated as a German astronaut candidate in the first ESA astronaut selection campaign. Following this, in 1978, he joined the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Oberpfaffenhofen, where he worked in the area of satellite-based search and rescue communication systems. In 1983, Ernst was selected as a science astronaut based at DLR in Cologne, Germany. After science training conducted at different universities and industrial laboratories, and after his flight training at ESA and NASA, he was assigned as a crewmember of the German Spacelab Mission D1 in 1985. From November 1986, Ernst has been Professor and Director of the Space Systems Institute (IRS) at the University of Stuttgart. He held various high ranking positions as Chairman of a Collaborative Research Center and was responsible for a variety of research activities at University institutes, industry and DLR laboratories. At Stuttgart University, Ernst was Dean of the Aerospace faculty from 1990 to 1992 and VicePresident (Provost) from 1996 to 1998. From 2000 to 2004 Ernst was Head of the European Astronaut Centre (EAC), in Cologne, Germany. Ernst Messerschmid has now left ESA and returned to his Professorship in Astronautics and Space Stations at the Institute of Space Systems University of Stuttgart. Experience

30 October 1985: German Spacelab Mission D1 (7-day spaceflight STS-61A with Challenger). Experiments in fluid physics, material science, biology, medicine and navigation. 1988 1992: Teaching of German (D2, MIR92 Mission) and ESA astronauts on Space Systems Engineering, Chairman of Selection Committee for German astronauts. Since 1990: Teaching at Ecole Nationale Superieure de lAeronautique et de lEspace, Toulouse and the International Space University ISU Strasbourg on Space Stations and Platforms. 1989 - 1999: Chairman of Collaborative Research Center (SFB 259) on High Temperature Problems of Re-usable Space Transportation Systems, Stuttgart, including 12 institutes from universities, DLR and industry.

1990 - 1992: Dean of Aerospace Faculty, University of Stuttgart; Deputy in the preceeding and following year. 1994 - 1996: Chairman of Space Segment Advisory Group (SSAG) for ESA Telecommunications Directorate 1994 2000: Member of ESA Space Station Utilization Panel (SSUP) 1995 - 1997: Chairman of DARA (German Space Agency) Advisory Group for Utilisation of the International Space Station, member of DARA advisory panels on Space Transportation Systems, Space Telecommunications and Navigation Systems

1996 - 1998: Vice-President Stuttgart University, in particular responsible for Research and Technology

1998 2000: CEO of Technology Transfer Initiative GmbH of University of Stuttgart 2000 - 2004: Head of the European Astronaut Centre (EAC), in Cologne, Germany.

Membership Dutch Royal Academy of Science (since 1985), German Aerospace Society DGLR (Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Luft- und Raumfahrt) Corresponding Member (1986), DGLR Board of Directors (198994), Member International Academy of Astronautics IAA (1989), Member Association of Space Explorers (ASE; since 1986), ASE Executive Committee (1989-92), German Space Agency DARA (Deutsche Agentur fr Raumfahrtangelegenheiten) Advisory Board (1990-94), American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics AIAA, Affiliate Member (1994). Publications Around 140 publications most of them published in journals and conference proceedings. Ernst holds ten patents and has authored and co-authored 10 books such as "Space Stations - Systems and Utilization" (Springer Publisher, March 1999). Special honours Science Award of Wissenschaftliche Gesellschaft in Freiburg im Breisgau (1976), NASA Space Flight Medal (1985), NASA Flight Achievement Award (1986), German Cross of Merit First Class (1985), Medal of Merit of Federal State Baden-Wrttemberg (1986), Golden Hermann Oberth Medal (1986), Reinhard-Furrer-Award of DARA (1997), Officier dans lOrdre des Palmes Acadmiques (2001).

Wubbo Ockels

Personal data

Born 28 March 1946, in Almelo, the Netherlands, but considers Groningen, the Netherlands, to be his hometown. He is married and has two children. Education Received a degree in physics and mathematics from the University of Groningen in 1973. Completed a Ph.D. thesis on the basis of experimental work at the Nuclear Physics Accelerator Institute (K.V.I.) in Groningen in 1978. Experience From 1973 to 1978, Wubbo Ockels performed experimental investigations at the Nuclear Physics Accelerator Institute in Groningen. His work concerned the gamma-ray decay of nuclear systems directly after formation and the development of a data-handling system involving design of electronics and programming of real-time software. He also contributed to the design and construction of position-sensitive charged particle detectors. While at the K.V.I. Institute, Ockels supervised the practical work of first-year physics students at the University of Groningen. In 1978, he was selected by the European Space Agency, as one of three European payload specialists (science astronauts) to train for the Spacelab missions, together with Ulf Merbold and Claude Nicollier. In May 1980, Ockels began the basic astronaut training for mission specialist at NASAs Johnson Space Center, Houston, United States. He successfully completed the training in August 1981 and joined the Spacelab 1 crew for training as a back-up payload specialist for the first mission of ESA's Spacelab. During the mission (28 November 8 December 1983) he served as ground-communicator and liaison-scientist for the crew on board STS-9/Spacelab 1. From 1986, Wubbo Ockels was stationed at ESA's research and technology centre, ESTEC, in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, where he supported human spaceflights activities. He later became Head of ESA's Education and Outreach Office in Noordwijk. During this time he also held a part-time professorship in Aerospace at the Delft University of Technology. From September 2003, in close coordination with ESA, he became full-time professor of Aerospace for Sustainable Engineering and Technology at the Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands, dealing with the exploitation of alternative sources of energy. Through the professorship Ockels is involved in innovative projects such as the Laddermill and the Nuna solar powered car, twice leading a team of students to victory in the bi-annual World Solar Challenge in Australia in 2001 and 2003.

Philippe Perrin

Personal data Born January 6, 1963, in Meknes, Morocco. Considers Avignon, Provence, to be his hometown. Married, two children. Enjoys scuba diving, skiing, sailing, hiking, travel, the history of sciences. Education Entered the French Ecole Polytechnique (Paris) in 1982. Graduated as Ingnieur Polytechnicien (engineering degree) in 1985. Received his Test Pilot Licence in 1993 from the Ecole du Personnel Navigant dEssais et de Rception (EPNER), the French Test Pilot School at Istres Air Force Base. Received his Airline Pilot Certificate in 1995. Perrin is Colonel with the French Air Force. Special awards Awarded his pilots wings first of his class in 1996. Recipient of two French Air Force awards for Flight Safety in 1989, the French Overseas Medal (Gulf War in 1991), and two French National Defense Medals. Experience Prior to graduating from the Ecole Polytechnique, Perrin completed military duty in the French Navy, where he was trained in ship piloting and navigation, and spent 6 months at sea in the Indian Ocean.

Following Ecole Polytechnique, he entered the French Air Force in 1985, was awarded his pilots wings in 1986, and assigned to the 33rd Reconnaissance Wing at Strasbourg Air Force Base (1987-1991). He flew the Mirage F1 CR and made detachments in Africa and Saudi Arabia. Upon graduating from EPNER, the French Test Pilot School, he worked on a variety of test programs while assigned to the Bretigny Test Center. In 1992, he was temporarily detached to the French Space Agency (CNES) and sent to Star City, Russia, where he trained for two months. In 1993, he reported to the 2nd Air Defense Wing of Dijon Air Force Base as Senior Operations Officer (Operation Southern Watch). In 1995, he returned to the Bretigny Test Center, as Chief Pilot Deputy, in charge of the development of the Mirage 2000-5. In July 1996, CNES announced his selection as an Astronaut and assigned him to attend NASAs Astronaut Candidate Training in Houston, Texas. From August 1996 Perrin reported to the Johnson Space Center. Having completed two years of training and evaluation, he was qualified for flight assignment as a mission specialist. Perrin was initially assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Spacecraft Systems/Operations Branch and worked on man-machine interface issues in different programs: Shuttle upgrade, X38 and ATV. Perrin has flown 26 combat missions and has logged over 3000 flying hours in over 30 types of planes (from jet fighters to Airbus). Spaceflight experience He served as a mission specialist (MS1) on STS-111 (June 5-19, 2002) onboard Space Shuttle Endeavour. The STS-111 mission delivered a new ISS resident crew and a Canadian-built mobile base for the orbiting outposts robotic arm. STS-111 also brought home the Expedition Four crew from their 6 month stay aboard the station. Mission duration was 13 days, 20 hours and 35 minutes. As MS1, Perrin was in the cockpit during ascent. He focused most of his time on orbit preparing and carrying out three successful space-walks. On the first two Extravehicular activities, he helped to install the MBS and on the third, he performed a late-notice repair of the stations robot arm by replacing one of its joints. He spent a total of about 19 hours outside the station. During that mission, he was also arm operator and berthed the MPLM back into the Orbiter Payload bay towards the end of the mission. He was also in charge of portable computers and worked as the main board engineer (MS2) during the rendezvous phases. Last assignment

In December 2002, Perrin joined the ESA European Astronaut Corps, whose homebase is the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) located in Cologne, Germany. After completion of a familiarization period, he will be assigned to provide engineering support to the ESA ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) project at the ATV Control Center in Toulouse. In May 2004, he became Experimental Test Pilot with Airbus Industrie in Toulouse.

Claude Nicollier, Astronaut of the European Space Agency (ESA)

European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Personal data Born 2 September 1944 in Vevey, Switzerland, Claude is married to the former Susana Perez of Monterrey, Mexico. They have two daughters, Maya and Marina. He enjoys mountain climbing, flying, travelling and photography. Education Graduated from Gymnase de Lausanne, Switzerland in 1962 and received a Bachelor of Science in physics from the University of Lausanne in 1970 and an Master of Science degree in astrophysics from the University of Geneva in 1975. He also graduated as a Swiss Air Force pilot in 1966, as an airline pilot in 1974 and as a test pilot in 1988. Organisations Member of the Swiss Astronomical Society, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, the Swiss Air Force Officers Society (AIVA) and the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences. Fellow of the British

Interplanetary Society. Honorary member of the Swiss Aero Club and of the Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects. Special honours Four NASA Space Flight Medals (1992, 1993, 1996, 1999), the NASA Distinguished Service Medal (1999), Prix dhonneur de la Fondation Pro Aero, Switzerland (1992), Yuri Gagarin Gold Medal from the International Aeronautical Federation (1994), Silver Medal from the Academie Nationale de l'Air et de l'Espace, France (1994), Robert J. Collier Trophy (awarded to the crew of the Hubble Space Telescope recovery mission STS-61) from the National Aeronautic Association, prix de L'Universite de Lausanne (1994), honorary doctorates from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Lausanne, the Geneva University (both in 1994), and the University of Basel (2000). He was appointed professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology EFPL, Lausanne, in November 1994. In 1998, the Einstein Society of Bern awarded him the Einstein Medal. Experience From 1970 to 1973 Claude worked as a graduate scientist at the Institute of Astronomy of Lausanne University and the Geneva Observatory. He then joined the Swiss Air Transport School in Zurich and was assigned as DC-9 pilot for Swissair, concurrently participating part time in the research activities of the Geneva Observatory. At the end of 1976 he accepted a Fellowship at the European Space Agency's (ESA) Space Science Department at Noordwijk, the Netherlands, where he worked as a research scientist in various infrared astronomy programmes. In July 1978 ESA selected him as a member of the first group of European astronauts. Under an agreement between ESA and NASA he joined the NASA astronaut candidates selected in May 1980 for astronaut training as a mission specialist and has been detached to the NASA Astronauts Office in Houston since July 1980. His technical assignments in the NASA Astronaut Office have included flight software verification in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL), participation in the development of retrieval techniques for the Tethered Satellite System (TSS), Remote Manipulator Systems (RMS), International Space Station (ISS) robotics support and ESA Branch support. During 1988 he attended the Empire Test Pilot School in Boscombe Down, England, from where he graduated as a test pilot. Nicollier retired at the end of 2004 as a captain in the Swiss Air Force. During the time of his assignment in Houston, he maintained flight proficiency on Hawker Hunter, Northtrop F-5E, and later on Pilatus PC-9 aircraft. He has logged close to 6000 hours flying time, including more than 4500 in jet aircraft.

From the spring of 1996 to the end of 1998, he was head of the NASA Astronaut Office Robotics Branch. Until his retirement from ESA in March 2007, Nicollier was assigned to the EVA Branch in the NASA Astronaut Office in Houston. Spaceflight experience A veteran of four space flights, Claude has logged more than 1000 hours in space. He flew as a mission specialist on STS-46 in 1992, STS-61 in 1993, STS-75 in 1996 and STS-103 in December 1999. STS-46 Atlantis (31 July to 8 August 1992), was an 8-day mission during which the crew deployed the European Retrievable Carrier (EURECA) science platform, and conducted the first Tethered Satellite System (TSS) test flight. STS-61 Endeavour (2-13 December 1993) was the first Hubble Space Telescope servicing and repair mission, a joint ESA/NASA project. During the 11-day flight, the HST was captured and restored to full capacity through a record of five spacewalks by four astronauts. STS-75 Columbia (22 February to 9 March 1996) was a 15-day flight, with principal payloads being the reflight of the Tethered Satellite System (TSS) and the third flight of the United States Microgravity Payload (USMP-3). The TSS experiment produced a wealth of new information on the electrodynamics of tethers and plasma physics before the tether broke at 19.7 km, just shy of the 20.7 km goal. Scientists on the ground were able to devise a programme of research making the most of the satellite's free flight while the astronauts work centered on research related to the USMP -3 Microgravity investigations. STS-103 Discovery (19-27 December 1999) was an 8-day mission. The primary objective was the repair and servicing of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), in particular the replacement of six gyroscopes which are necessary to meet the telescope`s very precise pointing requirement. During this spaceflight, Nicollier carried out his first spacewalk (EVA), of 08:10 hours duration, to install a new computer and one of three fine guidance sensors. He is the first European to obtain EVA experience on a Shuttle flight. Current assignment

Thomas Reiter

European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut, Director of ESAs Directorate of Human Spaceflight and Operations Personal data Born 23 May 1958, in Frankfurt/Main, Germany, Thomas is married and has two sons. He enjoys fencing, badminton, cooking and playing the guitar. Education Thomas Reiter holds a Masters degree in Aerospace Technology and a honorary doctorate from the German Armed Forces University in Neubiberg/Munich. He graduated from Goethe-High School in Neu-Isenburg in 1977, from the German Armed Forces University in 1982 and from the Empire Test Pilots School (ETPS) in Boscombe Down, England, in 1992. Experience After completion of military jet training at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, Thomas Reiter flew the Alpha-Jet in a fighter-bomber squadron based in Oldenburg, Germany. He was involved in the development of computerized mission planning systems and became a flight-operations officer and deputy squadron commander. After completing the test-pilot training Class 2 at the German flight test center in Manching during 1990, Reiter was involved in several flight test projects and conversion training on the Tornado the following year. Reiter attended the Class 1 test pilot training at ETPS, Boscombe Down, in 1992. His flight experience includes more than 2300 hours in military combat jet aircraft of more than 15 types.

Thomas Reiter was also involved in ESA studies of a manned space vehicle (Hermes) and development of equipment for the Columbus module, one of Europes main contributions to the International Space Station. In 1992, he was selected to join ESAs European Astronaut Corps, based at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany. After completing basic training, Reiter was selected for the Euromir 95 mission and started training at TsPK (Cosmonauts Training Centre) in Star City near Moscow in August 1993, preparing for onboard-engineer tasks, extra-vehicular activities and operations of the Soyuz transportation system. The Euromir 95 experiment training was organized and mainly carried out at EAC.
T. Reiter and crewmates

In March 1995, he was assigned as on-board engineer for the Euromir 95 mission, a record-breaking 179 days on ESA's Euromir 95 mission (3 September 1995 until 29 February 1996) with two spacewalks (EVAs). Between October 1996 and July 1997, Reiter underwent training on Soyuz-TM spacecraft operations for de-docking, atmospheric re-entry and landing. He was awarded the Russian Soyuz Return Commander certificate, which qualifies him to command a three-person Soyuz capsule during its return from space. Furthermore, he performed collateral duties in the ERA-team of ESA, which is developing the European Robotic Arm and its ground based test- and mission control equipment. From September 1997 to March 1999, Reiter was detached to the German Air Force as Operational Group Commander of a Tornado fighterbomber wing. After his return to ESA he gave support to the ATV team and the ERA programme. He continued training at the Russian Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City from June 1999 until March 2000 for the Russian Segments of the International Space Station. On 1 April 1999 he resumed his activities at the European Astronaut Centre, Cologne, Germany.

Gerhard Thiele, Astronaut of the European Space Agency (ESA)

Personal data Born 2 September 1953, in Heidenheim-Brenz, Germany. Considers Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, to be his hometown. He is married and has four children. Recreational interests include cooking, music, reading and sports, especially badminton. He enjoys his profession, and spending time with his family. Education Completed final high school examination at Friedrich-Schiller-Gymnasium in Ludwigsburg in 1972; studied physics at Ludwig-Maximilians Universitt in Munich, and at Ruprecht-Karls-Universitt in Heidelberg, from 1976 to 1982. He received his doctorate at the Institute for Environmental Physics of Heidelberg Universitt, in 1985. Organisations Member of Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (German Physical Society), American Geophysical Union, Member of the IAA (International Academy of Astronautics) Subcommittee on Lunar and Mars Development (1998), Member of the American Astronautical Society, and Member of "Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt Lilienthal-Oberth e.V."(DGLR). Special honours Federal Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, 1st Class (1993), NASA Space Flight Medal (2000), American Astronautical Society Flight Achievement Award (2000) with STS-99 crew, Medal of Merit of Baden-Wrttemberg (2001). Experience

Thiele served with the navy of the German Federal Armed Forces from 1972 to 1976 as operations/weapons officer aboard fast patrol boats. While completing his doctoral thesis, Thiele was a research assistant at the Institut fr Umweltphysik (Institute for Environmental Physics), Universitt of Heidelberg. He then completed post-doctoral research at Princeton University from 1986 to 1987. His main interests in research activities focused on global ocean circulation and its implications on climate development. He has authored and co-authored publications in the field of geophysics and oceanography as well as psychology. In 1988, Thiele began basic astronaut training at DLR (German Aerospace Research Establishment). Upon completion in 1990, he was assigned to the German D-2 Spacelab Mission. In 1992, he reported to the Johnson Space Center where he trained with the crew as back-up payload specialist. During the STS-55/Spacelab D-2 Mission (April 26 to May 6, 1993), Thiele served as alternate payload specialist in the Payload Operations Control Center of DLR at Oberpfaffenhofen. In 1994, he served with the Strategic Planning Group for the Program Director of DLR. Since 1994 he has served as an active member for the International Academy of Astronautics Subcommittee on Lunar Development. In 1995, he was assigned to head the Crew Training Center (CTC) at DLR in Cologne. In July 1996, DARA (German Space Agency) and DLR (German Aerospace Research Establishment) selected Thiele to attend NASA's mission specialist class 96 at the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas, where he qualified, after two years of training and evaluation, for flight assignment as a mission specialist. He was initially assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Computer Support Branch and led the development of a new class of computer based training courses. In August 1998, he joined the European Astronaut Corps of the European Space Agency, whose homebase is the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany. Following his flight in February 2000, Thiele was assigned by NASA for collateral duties as a CapCOM, the interface in charge of communications, between the Control Center and the Space Shuttle crew. This was the first time that this position had been assigned to a European astronaut. Since August 2001, Gerhard Thiele served as Head of the ESA astronauts and Operations Unit at EAC in Cologne and from August 2002 until April 2003 he became acting Head of the Astronaut Division. In January 2003, Gerhard Thiele was assigned as backup of Andr Kuipers for the Soyuz 8S mission. He started training at Yuri A. Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre GCTC (Star City) near Moscow in May 2003 and returned to EAC in May 2004. From August 2005 until March 2010, Gerhard Thiele was assigned as the Head of the Astronaut Division of the European Astronaut Centre (EAC).

Spaceflight experience Thiele participated 11-22 February 2000 as mission specialist in the STS-99 Mission. The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission(SRTM) was dedicated to the first, three-dimensional, digital mapping of the Earth surface on a nearly global scale. He was responsible for SRTM operations, including the deployment and retraction of the 200-foot high boom from Endeavours cargo bay upon which one of the flights radar systems was mounted. Thiele was also one of two spacewalking crew members, in the event contingency spacewalk would have been required during the flight. Current assignment As from 1 April 2010 Gerhard Thiele became Resident Fellow with the European Space Policy Institute in Vienna, Austria.

Michel Tognini

Personal data Born 30 September 1949, in Vincennes, France. Four children. Enjoys parachuting and parafoil, tennis, windsurfing, water-skiing, snow-skiing, cross-country running, wave-surfing, discus launch gliders and computers. Education Graduated from the Lyce de Cachan, Paris. He received an advanced mathematics degree in 1970 from EPA Grenoble (military school). He enrolled at Ecole de lair (French Air Force Academy), Salon de Provence, France, graduating with an engineering degree in 1973. Tognini attended the Empire

Test Pilots School, Boscombe Down, United Kingdom in 1982 and the Institut des Hautes Etudes de Dfense Nationale (IHEDN) in 1993-1994. He is a Gnral de brigade arienne (French Air Force). He gained qualifications as Fighter Pilot (all levels), Test Pilot, and Professional Pilot, he received Military Technical Diploma (BTEM) and the Cosmonaut diploma from the Soviet Union. He was awarded the NASA Spaceflight Medal and the V.M. Komarov Diploma (FAI). He received the Hawker Hunter Trophy and the Patuxent Shield Trophy from ETPS Boscombe Down. Organisations Member of the Association of Space Explorers (ASE). Special honours Michel Tognini is Commander of lOrdre de la Lgion dHonneur, Chevalier de lOrdre National de Mrite, he received the French Aeronautics Medal, and the Soviet and Russian Order of Friendship. He got the NASA Spaceflight Medal and the V.M. Komarov Diploma (FAI). He received the Hawker Hunter Trophy and the Patuxent Shield Trophy from ETPS Boscombe Down. Experience Following graduation in 1973 from the Ecole de lAir, and qualifying as a fighter pilot in 1974, Tognini was posted to a fighter squadron stationed at Cambrai, where he served as flight leader in 1976, and flight commander in 1979. In 1982 he was admitted to the Empire Test Pilot School in Boscombe Down, United Kingdom, and received his test pilot diploma. He was awarded his military studies diploma in 1983. Tognini was then posted to the Cazaux Flight Test Center, France, and qualified as chief test pilot. In September 1985, Tognini was selected as astronaut by the French Space Ageny CNES. In August 1986, he was assigned as the back-up for the Soyuz TM-7 mission. Although Tognini remained a French Air Force officer, he was placed on detachment to CNES for his space flight activities from September 1986 onwards. In November 1986 he reported to the Yuri A.Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Star City, near Moscow, for alternate astronaut training, including spacewalk training, for the Soviet-French Aragatz mission. During 1989-1990 he supported the HERMES program in Toulouse, France. In 1991 he returned to Star City, Russia, to start prime crew training for the 3rd French-Russian Antares mission, which took place from 27 July to 10 August 1992. During this stay, he also gaine d piloting experience of BURAN simulators. After his mission, he returned to France and attended a training cycle of the French Institute for High Studies of National Defense from 1993-1994.

In 1995, he took up Astronaut Candidate Training at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston/USA. He was initially assigned to the Operations Planning Branch of the Astronaut Office working technical issues on the International Space Station. He has prepared around 200 papers, presentations, speeches and conferences about Human Spaceflight. Michel has 4300 flight hours on 80 types of aircraft. In November 1999, Michel Tognini joined the European Astronaut Corps based at the European Astronaut Center in Cologne, Germany. His duty station remained at the NASA Johnson Space Center, where he performed technical duties in the International Space Station Robotics Branch supporting the Mobile Base System and the European Robotic Arm. He was also assigned to training support for the Shuttle and robotics as well as for the ExCan training of International Space Station crews (part of the Expedition Corps Working Group). In 2001 he worked as a Space Station Capcom, and joined the Station's branch for Russian hardware and training/payload of Soyuz in the Russian segment as well as for European COF training. From May 2003 to December 2004, Michel was Head of the Astronaut Division at the European Astronaut Centre. Spaceflight experience Tognini participated in the Antares mission from 27 July to 10 August 1992. This was his first flight to the Russian space station Mir, where he spent 14 days carrying out a programme of Soviet-French experiments. His second flight was on STS-93 which took place from 22-27 July 1999. During this mission his primary task was to assist in the deployment of the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, and to conduct a spacewalk if needed. The Chandra X-Ray Observatory is designed to conduct comprehensive studies of the universe. The telescope enables scientists to study exotic phenomena such as exploding stars, quasars, and black holes. Current assignment In January 2005, Michel became Head of the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany. He left ESA for retirement on 1 November 2011.