André Kuipers

In space you can find an outstanding multinational: the International Space Station (ISS). Realised by the United States of America, Europe, Russia, Canada and Japan.

André Kuipers was given the great privilege to work in the ISS twice and be a part of this international enterprise.

The ISS is the largest, most complex, international technological structure ever made by mankind. Working on groundbreaking technology which can exist in an extraterrestrial environment enables us to come to scientific insights about our place in the universe, we gather enormous amounts of information about our own Earth and the life our planet sustains. In space technology is everywhere: when it comes to medical issues, communications, transport, energy and even when it comes to exercising!

When André Kuipers was in the ISS he orbited Earth 16 times a day. Borders dividing countries are not visible from space. What is visible from space are the global challenges humankind faces: climate change, deforestation, erosion, the consequences of urbanisation.

When looking at Earth from space it becomes clear that we live on a small planet in a big and dark universe; Earth is in fact itself a ‘spaceship’ with limited supplies. New technologies – from recycling to satellite Earth observation – are needed to ensure a good future for all of us.

As a physician, André Kuipers was inspired by the idea of helping mankind travel further into space. The way the human body adapts to conditions in space has always intrigued him. Within aerospace medicine, André participated in a variety of research projects. During his space missions, André performed dozens of medical experiments and was often a “guinea pig” himself.
He tells first-hand about the influence of acceleration forces and weightlessness on the human body. The medical aspects on board the ISS are covered, from the gym and the defibrillator to psychology and radiation. As well as the systems to enable life in space anyway: air, food and water.

Becoming an astronaut involves quite a lot of effort. It is an endless road full of challenges and sacrifices to realise that one dream. The ability to always carry on, passion, patience and tolerance to frustration are indispensable qualities for any person wanting to be an astronaut, a little bit of luck however comes in handy as well.

However small the chance to succeed might seem, never give up! Boldly go where no one has gone before, because exactly there you will find these chances.

Humankind is not involved in space exploration because it easy (it usually is not), we are not involved in it because it is hard either (it usually is though). We do it because it gives us a tremendous payoff. André calls it ‘galactic entrepreneurship’. Promising applications are all around, with all of Earth’s population as a client.

Harvest predictions using satellites, new fuel cells developed for space flight, sun sensors which keep solar panels in the sun and mining on the moon. The science fiction of today is the reality of tomorrow.

“Humans are not designed to float in space at all. It is a particularly dangerous environment,” says ESA astronaut André Kuipers. He can give several examples of astronauts who had to pay for their work with death. This did not prevent him from responding to an advertisement in a newspaper announcing the vacancy for astronauts. More or less to his own surprise, Kuipers was chosen, and he went through an intensive training program. “Eighty percent of what I learned then, I never used. It was mainly about solving problems. You must be able to read procedures well and understand how tools work. If you know that, you can do anything.”

The weightlessness makes it easy to lift very heavy objects. Working with small objects is difficult, because they float away. And when you turn on an electric screwdriver, you have to be careful not to spin yourself!”

“It is not good to feel comfortable in a dangerous environment,” Kuipers explains. “That is why safety drills were held regularly”. The daily activities for Kuipers were laid down in tight schedules, just like for the other crew members.