Ockels Credit - www.spacefacts.de

Personal: Male, Married, Two children. Born in Almelo, Netherlands. PhD

Astronaut Career

Astronaut Group: Payload Specialist, ESA Group 1 - 1992. Inactive Entered space service: 18 May 1978. Left space service: 6 November 1985. Number of Flights: 1.00. Total Time: 7.03 days.

ESA Official Biography

NAME: Prof. Dr. Wubbo Ockels

BIRTHPLACE: Born in Almelo, The Netherlands, on 28 March 1946 but he considers Groningen , The Netherlands , to be his hometown.

MARITAL STATUS: Married, two children

EDUCATION: In 1973 - completed studies in physics and mathematics at K.V.I. in Groningen (Cum Laude). In 1978 received doctorate in physics and mathematics from the University of Groningen

EXPERIENCE: From 1973-1978 - performed experiments concerning gamma-ray decay of nuclear systems dircetly after formation and developed electronical systems and computer software at K.V.I. / Groningen. In 1978 was selected by ESA as one of the Payload Specialists for Spacelab-1. From 1980 to 1983 underwent training as Backup for Spacelab-1 at Johnson Space Center, Houston and Basic Training on the ESA Spacelab Module. In November/December 1983 was a Ground-communicator for the Spacelab-1 mission. Flew in space in October/November 1985 as Payload Specialist on STS-61A / Spacelab D-1, performing over 70 different experiments from 5 science fields aboard the shuttle Challenger.

Professor Dr. Ockels was thereafter stationed at ESTEC (the technical center of ESA in Noordwijk, The Netherlands) to supprt ESA activities for future manned space flights. He was particularly involved in the Columbus programme, Europe’s contribution to the International Space Station. Dr. Ockels was nominated by the Technical University of Delft, The Netherlands, for a part-time professorship at the Faculty of Aerospace Technology in July 1992. Additionally, he maintained his qualification as an ESA Scientist Astronaut. He was also assigned as Senior Technical Assistant to the Department of Automation and Informatics.

ORGANIZATIONS: Member of the American Physical Society, Nederlandse Natuurkundige Vereniging,Mensa, Association for Space Explorers, Association of European Astronauts.

• 30 October 1985 Flight: STS-61-A. Flight Up: STS-61-A. Flight Back: STS-61-A. Flight Time: 7.03 days.

30 October 1985 - STS-61-A. Manned eight crew. Launched GLOMR; carried Spacelab D1. Payloads: Spacelab D-1 with habitable module and 76 experiments. Six of the eight crew members were divided into a blue and red team working 12-hour shifts for 24-hour-a-day operation. The remaining two crew members were 'switch hitters.'.