"We are all astronauts on spaceship Earth". -Wubbo Ockels.
Wubbo Johannes Ockels (28 March 1946 – 18 May 2014) was a Dutch physicist, aviator and astronaut of the European Space Agency (ESA). He was the son of Johan Hendrik Marten Ockels and Anna Maria Elizabeth Ritter.
This mission in space took place from 30-10-1985 till 06-11-1985.
Personal life
Wubbo was born in Almelo as son of Johan Hendrik Marten Ockels and of Anna Maria Elizabeth Ritter. He grew up in Brielle. For his studies he went to the Rijksuniversiteit in Groningen where he studied physics and mathematics. He completed his studies in 1973 cum laude. In 1978 he was awarded a doctorate on experimental research of e.g. radiation on atomic nuclei.
Wubbo married Joos Swaving in 1969.[3] They have two children.
Career
Besides working as extraordinary professor at the University of Groningen Wubbo worked in 1977 at the Kernfysisch Versneller Instituut in Groningen,
One day Wubbo saw a notice from a newspaper, pinned on the bulletin board, announcing the training of specialists to operate the scientific instruments on board of the European space laboratory Spacelab, which was to make its first spaceflight in 1980 with the American Shuttle.[4]
Without hesitation Wubbo applied for the training. Out of 53 candidates, Wubbo was chosen to start the training. Because of this he was approached by ESA to work together with NASA.
During his work on the Spacelab-program Ockels was trained to become an astronaut. In 1980-1981 he followed his NASA training at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
He was in 1985 the first Dutchman aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger, the second born Dutchmen in space. His job was to do experiments with the inventive equipment of the Shuttle. The journey took 7 days.
Because of his experiences and knowledge Wubbo was recruited in 1986 by the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), the test centre of ESA.
In the same time he was appointed as professor at the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology. As a professor he emphasized more and more the importance of sustainability. He is called a champion on finding new ways of generating energy. Aiming to get rid of the use of polluting fossile energy. Trying to get more attention how precious and fragile our Earth is.
In 2003 he became professor Aerospace Sustainable Engineering and Technology chair at TU Delft. Besides a few of his own inventions, like the "laddermolen",[6] he loved to work with his students on innovative projects. He is jointly responsible for projects like the famous Nuno-car[7] and the Superbus.[8]
The Ecolution, a sustainable sailing ship, was built, between 2007 en 2010, by order of Wubbo. The ship contains innovations in the field of green energy, modern sailing techniques and comfort.[10]
The Ecolution, image made by S.J. de Waard, 2015.[11]
Since 2015 the Ecolution is owned by the foundation WadDuurzaam, which wants to preserve Wubbo's idea.[12]
Death
Wubbo passed away at the age of 68 years, in 2014 in Amsterdam.
He survived a leptospirose infection in 1982, the journey into space in 1985, an aircraft crash in Lile in 1989, a heart attack in 2005, and he was operated after they found he had a nasty form of cancer in 2008. Wubbo recovered but in 2013 the cancer was back.[13][14]
Wubbo's daughter, Gean Ockels wrote a biography of her father titled "De zeven levens van Wubbo Ockels" (The seven lives of Wubbo Ockels).[15]
How important sustainability is for Wubbo and how important it was for him to increase awareness is shown again in the last video recording, made the day before he died, in which he calls on everyone to save the earth.[16]
Wubbo was brought by boat to his resting place at Zorgvliet in Amsterdam. Accompanied to the last part to the cemetery, by rowers from the Willem III rowing club of which Wubbo was a member.[17]