The first Swiss Astronaut Lands in Rolle - Claude Nicollier

Mandy
May 21
3 min read

What do you get when you mix Swiss efficiency with cosmic ambition?

Switzerland’s first and only astronaut, Claude Nicollier, recently spoke at A-One Business Park in Rolle, sharing stories from space that left the audience inspired and quietly awestruck.

A-One, known for its panoramic views over Lake Geneva and modern workspace design, has also become a venue for thought-provoking events but this one was something special. After all, it’s not every day you hear firsthand what it’s like to float in orbit or repair the Hubble Space Telescope.

From Earth to Orbit

Between 1992 and 1999, Nicollier completed four space missions with NASA and the European Space Agency. His work on the Hubble Space Telescope remains one of his most well-known contributions and one of the most dangerous. He shared what it felt like to move through space at 28,000 km/h, to spend hours in a spacesuit outside the shuttle, and to trust a team with your life in a place where even the smallest error can be fatal.

And yet, he spoke with calm and humility and a touch of dry humour.

What stood out wasn’t just the science but the mindset. His key message? Spaceflight teaches you serious lessons in risk management, shared leadership, and staying laser-focused in chaotic situations.

“You don’t think too much about the danger,” he said. “If you do, you’ll just stop.”

The Man Behind the Mission

Nicollier's passion with space began in childhood. He remembers spotting Echo 1, one of the first satellites visible from Earth, and was instantly hooked. It wasn’t just the technology that drew him in. It was the beauty. He still gets emotional watching a sunset,that moment when light fades and stars begin to appear. That magical twilight, he says, is where his love for the cosmos truly lives.

What's Next for Swiss Space

Switzerland’s future in space is looking bright. Marco Sieber, a medical doctor and astronaut, is currently in training with the European Space Agency. Could he be the first Swiss on the moon? We will have to wait and see!

Even more groundbreaking: ESA has also begun training the world’s first “parastronaut”, a physically disabled astronaut who uses a prosthetic. It's a powerful sign that space exploration is becoming more inclusive and more human.

A Few Fascinating Facts from Space

Space shuttles fly at 28,000 km/h: that’s Nyon to Zurich in under a minute!
Apollo 11 landed on the moon on 20–21 July 1969.
There’s no clear line where Earth ends and Space begins. It's more of a gradual transition.
Echo 1, launched in 1960, was one of the first visible satellites and deeply influenced a young Claude Nicollier.

More Than Just a Business Park

This event also highlighted how A-One Business Park is evolving. Beyond its modern offices, it’s becoming a space where people come together. For talks, meet-ups and community events like this one so we can learn, connect, and occasionally hear from someone who’s been to space and back! And with panoramic views over Lake Geneva, even the most grounded of us can feel a little inspired.

Claude Nicollier’s message wasn’t just about rockets or orbits. It was about perspective. On risk, on wonder, and what it means to work together toward something greater than ourselves. Whether you’re launching satellites or startups, that’s a message worth hearing.