Claude Nicollier

“Hubble was really the jewel of the space program for science.”

“The view of the Earth is spectacular. It's a beautiful, fragile-looking thing.”

“Space is a fantastic place to work. You are in a different world, and you have to be very careful.”

“The overview effect is a reality. It's the feeling of seeing the Earth from a distance, as a small object in the universe.”

“Fixing Hubble was like performing surgery in space. It required precision, patience, and incredible coordination.”

“I was totally aware of being the first Swiss in space.”

“I always dreamed of flying, first as a pilot and then as an astronaut.”

“The stars don't twinkle in space. They're just very sharp, steady points of light.”

“I feel very privileged to have had this opportunity to go to space not once, but four times.”

“When you're up there, you're not a Swiss or a European or an American. You're a human being from Planet Earth.”

“Teamwork is absolutely essential. Your life depends on your colleagues, and their lives depend on you.”

“The training is very intense. It's very long, but it's very good.”