Pedro Duque

Pedro Duque (born March 14, 1963) is a Spanish astronaut and aeronautical engineer. He is known for his significant contributions to space exploration and his role in the European Space Agency (ESA). Duque was the first Spanish astronaut to go into space.

Early Life and Education

Pedro Duque was born in Madrid, Spain. He developed an interest in space exploration at a young age. He pursued his passion by studying Aeronautical Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Madrid. After graduation, he worked for GMV, a private aerospace company, where he was involved in the development of flight systems and automatic control for spacecraft.

Career

In 1992, Duque was selected by the European Space Agency as an astronaut candidate. He underwent rigorous training and was eventually chosen for the STS-95 mission, making him the first Spanish astronaut to go into space. During the mission, he conducted numerous scientific experiments in microgravity.

In 2003, Duque went to space for the second time on the Cervantes mission, where he spent a week on the International Space Station conducting further experiments.

After his space missions, Duque held various positions within the ESA, including Director of the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany. In 2018, he was appointed as Spain's Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, a position he held until 2021.

Legacy

Pedro Duque's contributions to space exploration have made him a prominent figure in the field. His work has inspired many young people in Spain and across Europe to pursue careers in science and technology.

See Also

• List of astronauts
• European Space Agency
• International Space Station