From 1970 to 1973, Claude worked as a graduate scientist with the Institute of Astronomy at Lausanne University and at the Geneva Observatory.
When he joined the Swiss Air Transport School in Zurich he became a pilot for Swissair, as well as taking part in research activities of the Geneva Observatory.
From there he accepted a Fellowship at the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Space Science Department in the Netherland.
In July 1978 he was selected by ESA as a member of the first group of European
astronauts. Under agreement between ESA and NASA he joined the NASA astronaut candidates selected in May 1980 for astronaut training as a mission specialist.
From the Spring of 1996 to the end of 1998, he was Head of the Astronaut Office Robotics Branch.
From 2000-2007, he was assigned to the Astronaut Office EVA (Extravehicular Activity) Branch, while maintaining a position as Lead ESA astronaut in Houston. He retired from ESA in March 2007 and plans to teach an “Introduction to Aerospace” course at the Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, Switzerland.
