Speaker of the day: Claude Nicollier — Leadership and Management

Claude Nicollier is a Swiss astronaut born in 1944 in Vevey. A renowned astrophysicist, he became the first Swiss in space during the STS-46 mission. He completed four missions aboard different shuttles, two of which were dedicated to the repair and maintenance of the Hubble Space Telescope. During the first mission, he was responsible for piloting the shuttle's robotic arm and, as such, performed the first orbital capture of the space telescope.

After completing his studies in Lausanne and spending three years at the Institute of Astronomy at the University of Lausanne, he joined the Zurich Civil Aviation School in 1974 before being hired as an airline pilot by Swissair.

In 1975, he obtained a certificate in astrophysics at the University of Geneva and then began working as a researcher. It was in 1978 that ESA selected him for the first group of European astronauts. He then joined NASA to refine his training and specialize in preparation for missions. This captain of the Swiss Air Force already pilots many types of aircraft, which he knows perfectly.

Today, he teaches at EPFL and gives courses in space engineering. He participates in many associations such as: the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, the Society of Air Force Officers, the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences. He is also a member of the British Interplanetary Society, Honorary Member of the Swiss Aero Club and the Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects (SIA), President of the Foundation of the Payerne Military Aviation Museum. He sits on the board of directors of Swatch Group, honorary member of "Schweizer Astronomietag Verein". Finally, he is a member of the Honorary Committee of ASED (Action de soutien à l’enfance démunie - Support Action for Deprived Children) and a member of the Air and Space Academy (correspondent in 2013, member in 2015).

Furthermore, he actively participates in the Solar Impulse adventure as Head of Flight Test Operations.

Claude Nicollier currently gives lectures on space exploration and the challenges of tomorrow. Languages spoken by the speaker

• English
• French

Claude Nicollier delivers lectures throughout Switzerland and internationally. With UnoMe you can learn everything from a great astronaut who has carried out several major space missions in space. Discover his lectures:

• Story of space conquest: 50 years of man on the moon
• Risk management in complex environments
• Astronomy
• How to train astronauts
• The challenges of space conquest

He completed four major missions:

• Mission STS-46 in 1992 aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis (July 31 to August 8, 1992)
• Mission STS-61 in 1993 aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour (December 2-13, 1993)
• Mission STS-75 in 1996 aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia (February 22 to March 9, 1996)
• Mission STS-103 in December 1999 aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery (December 19-27, 1999)