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Claude Nicollier (born September 2, 1944) is an
ESA astronaut who has flown on several Space
Shuttle missions.

He was born in Vevey, Switzerland, graduating from
Gymnase de Lausanne (high school), Lausanne,
Switzerland, in 1962; received a bachelor of
science in physics from the University of Lausanne
in 1970 and a master of science degree in
astrophysics from the University of Geneva in
1975. Also graduated as a Swiss Air Force pilot in
1966, an airline pilot in 1974, and a test pilot
in 1988 (Empire Test Pilot’s School, Boscombe
Down, United Kingdom).

From 1970 to 1973, Claude worked as a graduate
scientist with the Institute of Astronomy at
Lausanne University and at the Geneva Observatory.
He then joined the Swiss Air Transport School in
Zurich and was assigned as a DC-9 pilot for
Swissair, concurrently participating part-time in
research activities of the Geneva Observatory. At
the end of 1976 he accepted a Fellowship at the
European Space Agency’s (ESA) Space Science
Department at Noordwijk, Netherlands, where he
worked as a research scientist in various airborne
infrared astronomy programs. In July 1978 he was
selected by ESA as a member of the first group of
European astronauts. Under agreement between ESA
and NASA he joined the NASA astronaut candidates
selected in May 1980 for astronaut training as a
mission specialist.

His technical assignments in the Astronaut Office
have included flight software verification in the
Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL),
participation in the development of retrieval
techniques for the Tethered Satellite System
(TSS), Remote Manipulator System (RMS), and
International Space Station (ISS) robotics
support. From the Spring of 1996 to the end of
1998, he was Head of the Astronaut Office Robotics
Branch. From the year 2000 to date, he was
assigned to the Astronaut Office EVA
(Extravehicular Activity) Branch, while
maintaining a position as Lead ESA astronaut in
Houston.

Claude holds a commission as captain in the Swiss
Air Force. He has logged 5,600 hours flying
time--including 4,000 hours in jet aircraft.

A veteran of four space flights, Claude has logged
more than 1,000 hours in space including 1 space
walk totaling 8 hours and 10 minutes. He served on
STS-46 in 1992, STS-61 in 1993, STS-75 in 1996,
and STS-103 in 1999.

He is married to the former Susana Perez of
Monterrey, Mexico. They have two daughters, Maya
and Marina. He enjoys mountain climbing, flying,
and photography. His father, Mr. Georges
Nicollier, resides in La Tour de Peilz,
Switzerland.

ORGANIZATIONS: Member of the Swiss Astronomical
Society, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific,
the Swiss Air Force Officers Society (AVIA), and
the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences. Fellow
of the British Interplanetary Society. Honorary
member of the Swiss Aero Club, and the Swiss
Society of Engineers and Architects.

SPECIAL HONORS: NASA Distinguished Service Medal
(2001), Four NASA Space Flight Medals (1992, 1993,
1996, 1999), Prix d'honneur de la Fondation Pro
Aero, Switzerland (1992), Yuri Gagarin Gold Medal
from the International Aeronautical Federation
(1994), Silver Medal from the Académie Nationale
de l'Air et de l'Espace, France (1994), Collier
Trophy (awarded to the crew of STS-61) from the
National Aeronautics Association (1994), Prix de
l'Université de Lausanne (1994), honorary
doctorates from the Swiss Federal Institute of
Technology, Lausanne, and the Geneva University
(both in 1994). Appointed professor at the Swiss
Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, in
November 1994.

== External link ==

*
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/nicollie.htm
l Claude Nicollier biography