Video Kidibot

Tag: Dutch astronaut

  • Sir Elton John greets the ‘Rocket Men’

    Sir Elton John greets the ‘Rocket Men’

    This video was specially recorded during Sir Elton John’s Million Dollar Piano Show in Las Vegas, on 17 April 2012, 40 years to the day after his single Rocket Man was released around the world.

    Continuing the celebration of ESA astronaut André Kuipers’ music in space, British rock legend Sir Elton sent a special message to ESA, André and the crew of the ISS on the 40th anniversary of this classic song.

    Sir Elton said, “When I was a boy Dan Dare was a comic book hero, and space travel just a romantic idea, not a reality. I was 14 years old when Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space; my songwriting partner Bernie Taupin was just 11. Bernie and I did not meet until 1967, and two years after we met, Neil Armstrong became the first man to step on to the moon.

    “Our generation was smitten with the glory and excitement of space travel. ‘Rocket Man’ – and indeed ‘Dan Dare’ on the Rock of the Westies album – came from those boyhood dreams of travelling beyond the stars and looking back on Earth.

    “Not long after the Rocket Man single was released, my band and I were invited to the NASA headquarters in Texas and shown around by Al Worden, Apollo 15 command module pilot. It was thrilling to find that real astronauts liked our song, Rocket Man, which was about an imaginary astronaut.

    “Now, 40 years later, it’s amazing to hear from the astronauts at the European Space Agency that they like the song and that it has been on the playlist on the International Space Station. I send my best wishes to ESA and all the crew, and my thanks for keeping those boyhood dreams alive.”

    André said, “This song has been an inspiration to many people who are interested in space, and especially those who wanted to become astronauts, including myself. It is certainly one of the most played songs here on the ISS, and we know it will accompany more astronauts into space in the future.”

    Rocket Man appeared on Elton John’s album Honky Château, released also 40 years ago next week, on 19 May 1972.

    Video copyright ESA/Rocket Music
    Rocket Man written by E. John and B. Taupin
    Music and concert excerpts, courtesy Rocket Music
    Video produced by ESA/J. Makinen

  • Aurora Australis from Space Station

    Aurora Australis from Space Station

    André took this video of Aurora Australis from the European Cupola module in the Space Station. The beautiful phenomenon is caused by bursts of particles from the Sun pouring down Earth’s magnetic field into the atmosphere.

  • Timelapse of Western Europe seen from onboard the ISS

    Timelapse of Western Europe seen from onboard the ISS

    Western Europe in timelapse as seen from the International Space Station by ESA astronaut André Kuipers, during his long-duration mission to the ISS, PromISSe

  • Orchestra plays an inspiring tribute to ESA’s André Kuipers

    Orchestra plays an inspiring tribute to ESA’s André Kuipers

    The 42-piece DSS Aarlanderveen orchestra played an inspiring tribute to André Kuipers at their annual ‘Wish concert’ on 11 February 2012. Each year the orchestra take ‘wish’ requests from Dutch celebrities, but this year the orchestra wanted to perform something very special for Wensconcert 2012, and uniquely decided to dedicate their ‘wish’ spot to André.
    They chose the Jupiter hymn from Holst’s ‘The Planets’ suite, one of
    André’s favourite pieces. Afterwards the audience was treated to a message received from the ISS, in which André said: “Oh how nice! I have this music up here with me. I’m very honoured to have such a beautiful piece dedicated to me. Warmest thanks for that.”

    The DSS Aarlanderveen orchestra is based in Aarlanderveen, near Alphen aan den Rijn, in the Netherlands. Leading the orchestra on the night was Danny Oosterman, a well-known Dutch conductor, cornet and trumpet player, and instructor at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and the Utrechts Conservatorium.

  • PromISSe launch campaign – now in 3D!

    PromISSe launch campaign – now in 3D!

    Follow ESA astronaut André Kuipers and his crewmates, NASA astronaut Donald Pettit and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Kononeko, on their journey from Baikonur cosmodrome, in Kazakhstan, up to their launch onboard a Soyuz TMA-03M spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS).

    On 21 December 2011, André embarked on ESA’s fourth long-duration mission to the ISS, “PromISSe”. During his five months onboard this human outpost in space, Andre is serving as a flight engineer for Expedition 30.

    This exceptional 3D video shows some of the main events before launch, including: the city of Baikonur, the avenue of cosmonauts with the tree once planted by Yuri Gagarin, the Gagarin Museum, the roll-out of Soyuz in the early morning hours, the vertical erection of the rocket on the launch pad, the pre-launch press conference, the ready-to-fly report of the crew commander, and of course – the amazing light show of a night launch from the Gagarin launch pad in Baikonur.

    Stereoscopic 3D glasses are required to properly enjoy the full 3D effect of this footage.

    André and his fellow crew members will return to Earth by the end of May 2012.