Jean-François Clervoy logged 675 hours in space across three NASA Space Shuttle missions between 1994 and 1999. A career engineer and military flight specialist, he contributed to the maintenance of the Hubble Space Telescope and participated in critical rendezvous operations with the Mir space station while representing the European Space Agency and the French space agency, CNES.
Academic and Military Formation
Born in 1958 in Longeville-lès-Metz, Clervoy pursued a rigorous technical education. He earned his baccalauréat in 1976 from the Collège Militaire de Saint-Cyr-l'École before attending the Prytanée National Militaire. He graduated from the École polytechnique in 1981 and the Institut Supérieur de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace in 1983. His training extended to the École du personnel navigant d'essais et de réception, where he qualified as a flight test engineer in 1987. His professional background includes service in the Corps of Armament.
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Clervoy joined the second group of French astronauts in 1985 and later moved to the European Astronaut Corps in 1992. His first mission, STS-66, involved deploying the CRISTA-SPAS satellite in 1994. In 1997, he served as payload commander for STS-84, facilitating the transfer of four tons of equipment between the Atlantis shuttle and the Mir station. His final mission in 1999, STS-103, focused on vital repairs to the Hubble Space Telescope, where he utilized the robotic arm for complex maneuvers.
Technical Leadership and Advisory Roles
Beyond his flight duties, Clervoy served as the flight software verification lead in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory. He also managed the parabolic flight program at the Flight Test Center in Brétigny-sur-Orge. Later, he acted as a senior advisor for the Automated Transfer Vehicle project. Currently, he serves as Chairman and strategy manager for Novespace, overseeing parabolic flight operations based in Bordeaux-Mérignac, France.
Professional Recognition
Clervoy is a member of the Académie de l'air et de l'espace and the Association Aéronautique et Astronautique de France. His service has been acknowledged with numerous distinctions, including the Knight of the National Order of Merit and the Officer of the Legion of Honour. In 2023, he was named a Commander of the Legion of Honour. He also remains engaged with maritime and ocean exploration initiatives, serving as an ambassador for the World Ocean Network.
Fast facts
- Born: 1958, Longeville-lès-Metz, France
- Citizenship: France
- Space missions: 3
- Total space flight time: 675 hours
- Current role: Chairman, Novespace
- Education: École polytechnique, ISAE-SUPAERO
- Award: Commander of the Legion of Honour (2023)
Questions readers ask
What was Clervoy's role on the Hubble mission?
He served as the flight engineer for ascent and entry and operated the robotic arm to capture the telescope and assist during spacewalks.
What is his current involvement in aviation?
He manages the parabolic flight program for Novespace, which utilizes the A310 Zero-G aircraft.
Achievements
- Officer of the Legion of Honour
- Knight of the National Order of Merit
- Commander of the Legion of Honour — 2023
- Educated at Prytanée National Militaire, École polytechnique and Institut Supérieur de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace
- Worked as military flight engineer, astronaut and engineer
