1999 member of Astronaut Corps European Space Agency
2003 backup Cervantes Mission
2004 DELTA mission to ISS (11 days)
2009 backup Expedition 20/21
2010 backup Expedtion 28/29
2011-2012 Expedition 30/31 (mission PromISSe) to ISS (193 days)
Since back on Earth active to inspire young and old with lectures, children's books and as a tv presenter to promote the indispensable benefits of exploration and space science, international cooperation and to inspire especially the young generation for science and technology to promote a better stewardship of our home planet.
Regular guest in talkshows and host of various television programs about space and/or sustainability. The latests of the TV activities are 'Space Challenge - Mission to Mars', a chidren’s program (NPO3). And 'Spaceship Earth' for families (NPO1). Both series were broadcasted on Dutch public television on Saturday evening prime time resp in November and December 2022 and January and February 2023.
Co-initiator of educational project aimed at school children is the Space Buzz. The SpaceBuzz Foundation aims to inspire children worldwide with the view of an astronaut, to enthuse them to become ‘ambassadors of planet Earth’. The worldwide launch of the SpaceBuzz was in 2019 in Houston, USA.
Current functions and memberships
Board member Association of Space Explores ASE
Member Royal Palace Committee
Member Dutch Aviation Medicine Society
Member Dutch Association for Spaceflight
Special Honours
Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion
Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau
King of Arms at the inauguration of King Willem-Alexander
Honorary Doctorate by University of Amsterdam
Recipient of the Order of Friendship of Russia
NASA Space Flight Medal
Pre-astronaut experience
From 1991 to 2002, Science Coordinator of physiological experiments for ESA/ESTEC. Involved in the preparation, coordination, baseline data collection and ground control of physiological experiments for ESA space missions.
In 1989 and 1990 at the the Netherlands Aerospace Medical Centre as Medical Examiner researcher. 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 airplanes. Medical examinations of pilots and monitoring human centrifuge training as well as teaching pilots physiological aspects of flying.
In 1987 and 1988, officer of the Royal Netherlands Air Force Medical Corps, research on disorientation in fighter pilots.
