One Small Step

Documentary by Lies Niezen

A searching portrait of the Dutch cosmonaut André Kuipers who made his first ‘Russian’ space voyage to the International Space Station in April 2004.

Monday April 19th, 2004, 05.18 AM. Dutch cosmonaut André Kuipers is launched into space from the 47m high launch platform in Baikonur, Kazachstan. Eight minutes and fourty seconds later his dream has become true. The Sojuz capsule has brought him and his two fellow cosmonauts in an orbit around Earth. They will dock at the International Space Station (ISS) where Kuipers will conduct scientific research for eight days.

Dutch director Lies Niezen was allowed access to Star City - the Russian State Research and Testing Center for Cosmonaut Training near Moscow - to whitness André’s preparations and the emotional excitement of his family, who follow him every step of the way.

A short version of the film was broadcast by NCRV Television as “Grenzeloos Dromen – de missie van André Kuipers” on April 18th, 2005 – one day before the first anniversary of his launch in the Sojuz.