André Kuipers is an ESA astronaut and one of Europe’s most experienced spacefarers. Born on October 5, 1958, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, he has flown two missions to the International Space Station, spending a total of 204 days in space.

Kuipers holds a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Amsterdam and began his career in aerospace medicine, specializing in the physiological effects of high acceleration and microgravity. His research focused on human adaptation to spaceflight, equilibrium systems, and pilot health under extreme conditions, work he conducted at the Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam and the Netherlands Aerospace Medical Centre.

He joined the European Space Agency’s Astronaut Corps in 1999 and completed ESA’s Basic Astronaut Training Programme in 2002. His first space mission, ESA’s DELTA mission in 2004, included a 12-day stay aboard the ISS, during which he conducted more than 20 scientific experiments. His second mission, PromISSe (2011–2012), was a long-duration expedition lasting nearly six months, during which he contributed to approximately 50 experiments and supported critical docking operations, including ESA’s Automated Transfer Vehicle and SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft.

Since returning to Earth, André Kuipers has remained deeply engaged in space outreach, education, and sustainability efforts. He is a passionate advocate for science and technology education and has served as an ambassador for numerous environmental and educational initiatives. In recognition of his contributions, he has received multiple honors, including Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau.