Wubbo Ockels

Wubbo Ockels, born 28 March 1946, in Almelo, the Netherlands.

In 1978, he was selected by the European Space Agency, as one of three European payload specialists (science astronauts) to train for the Spacelab missions, together with Ulf Merbold and Claude Nicollier.

Between 30 October and 6 November 1985, Wubbo Ockels flew as a payload specialist on flight STS-61A with Space Shuttle Challenger. STS-61A was the German D1 Spacelab mission.