As long ago as ancient Greece, Plato wrote "astronomy compels the soul to look upward, and leads us from this world to another." More recently, science fiction - whether in literature, comics, TV or films - has inspired generations to become involved in space programmes. For Dutch astronaut André Kuipers, it was the German science fiction series; 'Perry Rhodan' that grabbed his imagination.
"When I was twelve years old, my grandmother gave me some science fiction books from the famous Perry Rhodan series. I couldn't stop reading them. From that moment on, my dream was to become an astronaut."
Kuipers is a member of a select group of Europeans who have been fortunate enough to travel to space.
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In fact, he is the only person from the Netherlands who has been to space twice. His first space launch was in 2004, when he was a member of the European Space Agency's (ESA) Delta mission. This lasted 11 days, visiting the International Space Station (ISS).
His second tour was in 2011 - 2012, when he spent 193 days orbiting the Earth on the ISS. He was the flight engineer for the mission and performed a number of other tasks including that of pilot for the space docking.
The father of four, Kuipers was selected as a member of the ESA's European Astronaut Corps, to participate in joint missions with US and Russian astronauts. The fact this elite corps only has 16 members, including British astronaut Timothy Peake - currently on the ISS - is a reflection of the rigour of the selection process.
Clearly, Kuipers has 'the right stuff', the expression coined by writer Tom Woolfe when he wrote about the first US space missions; that special combination of mental and physical prowess needed to become a successful astronaut.
Yet when asked why he believed he had the 'the right stuff', Kuipers is quick to point out he initially thought he was not astronaut material, "simply because I wore glasses."
"However, when I discovered this was not necessarily a show stopper, I worked hard towards my dream and managed to get through the selection process; of course always aware in the back of my mind that I might not be selected."
Following selection, Kuipers had to undergo hundreds of hours of training. This was divided into three main sections.
Firstly, he had to pass a one-year basic-training course. This is where candidates learn about space technology and science, basic medical skills, and how the International Space Station (ISS) works. They also become familiar with scuba diving to get them used to weightlessness.
In their second year, advanced training, they learn in more detail about the various elements of the ISS, the possible experiments they will carry out, the launch vehicles that will carry them to the space station and the involvement of ground control.
In addition to this European astronauts may need to learn Russian, (fluent English is mandatory.) Once they have completed the first two parts of their training, astronauts are assigned a mission, working as much as possible with the other members of the crew.
Tasks include training to undertake specific tasks linked with their mission and becoming familiar with weightlessness by doing parabolic air flights.
When asked, what was racing through his mind during the launch countdown, when he was strapped down in the capsule, on top of a 49.5 metre tall rocket, containing around 175 tonnes of highly flammable rocket fuel, Kuipers responds; "It was a mixture of excitement and professional thoughts about my tasks during and just after launch. We had been training in the Soyuz for many years so I knew the vehicle really well."
Describing the physically pressures he felt when the Russian Soyuz rocket started launching into space, the Dutchman said; "Under the full acceleration of lift off I felt three times heavier than on Earth. However, once the engines shut down for the first time I experienced genuine weightlessness. It takes some time to get used to it, but then it's great fun. You feel like you're gently floating as the earth passes by below you."
Kuipers clearly enjoyed his time on the space station saying "I really miss weightlessness. Floating around in the space station is like a fish in water. It is incomparable to anything on earth."
In addition, the views he saw of the Earth made a lasting impression. "Planet earth is a breath taking natural phenomenon. You realise that when you see it from space. At the same time you also realise the vulnerability of our planet. We all need to take great care of our magnificent world."
He is currently an ambassador for the World Wildlife Fund and presented a TV documentary visiting environmentally threatened areas of the world, that he had seen from space.
Another aspect he misses was "working in a unique international environment with creative and devoted colleagues."
Now back on earth, Kuipers firmly believes that despite the costs involved, European countries and the EU should remain involved in space programmes.
"No single European country can afford a full space programme on its own." For the Dutchman the investment is important, since "many of the global challenges we all face can be solved with the help of satellites and space technologies."
He is also excited about current European innovations and technologies that have recently emerged. These include the ESA-backed Rosetta mission to land the Philae probe on comet 67P/ Churyumov–Gerasimenko, something he describes as, "an amazing technological development."
The Dutchman also highlights his own country's development of the satellite instrument Tropomi. When launched into the earth's orbit as part of the ESA's Copernicus mission, this will help in atmospheric research and in mapping air pollution across the world.
Despite these innovations, Kuipers is less optimistic about a manned mission to Mars taking place anytime soon. "I would be lying if I said I never dream about visiting Mars. However at the current moment, I see too many challenges to be resolved before we can send humans to Mars and bring them back home safely. I am afraid by the time these problems are solved, I will be too old to undertake such a mission."
With the Dutch co-hosting a major five-day, European Space Solutions Conference (ESS) at the end of this month, Kuipers' message to policy makers and business people attending is; "The world is facing major challenges and space has the ability to deliver many efficient and effective solutions."
He calls on EU policymakers to be aware of the opportunities and applications that space can offer. "These can be key in addressing such challenges as climate change, agriculture, water shortages and food security."
He hopes the ESS "will inspire many scientists, innovators, entrepreneurs and policy makers to cooperate on new pioneering projects."