Bertrand Piccard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bertrand Piccard
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Piccard in 2015
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| Born | 1 March 1958 |
| Alma mater | University of Lausanne |
| Occupation | Psychiatrist and aviator |
| Organization | Solar Impulse |
| Known for | Ballooning, solar flight |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent(s) |
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| Relatives | Auguste Piccard (grandfather) |
Bertrand Piccard (born March 1, 1958) is a famous Swiss explorer, a doctor who helps people with their minds (a psychiatrist), and someone who cares a lot about the environment. He is known for two amazing flights around the world.
First, he and Brian Jones were the first people to fly a balloon, called Breitling Orbiter 3, non-stop around the world. Later, he was the main person behind and a pilot for Solar Impulse. This was the first successful flight around the world using only solar power. In 2012, the UN Environment Programme gave Piccard a special award called Champions of the Earth. He also started and leads the Solar Impulse Foundation.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Bertrand Piccard was born in Lausanne, Switzerland. His family has a long history of exploring! His grandfather, Auguste Piccard, was a famous balloonist and explored the deep sea. His father, Jacques Piccard, also explored the deep sea.
When he was a child, Bertrand went to see rockets launch into space. Even though he was scared of heights at first, he started hang gliding when he was 16. He became very interested in flying and how people act in tough situations. He later went to the University of Lausanne and became a psychiatrist.
Amazing Flights and Career
Bertrand Piccard learned to fly many different types of aircraft. He got licenses to fly balloons, airplanes, gliders, and motorized gliders. In the 1970s, he was one of the first people to do hang gliding and microlight flying in Europe. He even became the European hang-glider aerobatics champion in 1985.
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The Breitling Orbiter 3
On March 1, 1999, Piccard and Brian Jones took off in their special balloon, the Breitling Orbiter 3. It was a bright red, egg-shaped craft. They started their journey from Château d'Oex in Switzerland.
This flight was the first time anyone had flown a balloon non-stop around the world! They didn't use any fuel to move forward. Piccard and Jones worked with a team on the ground to find strong wind currents called jet streams. These winds carried them 25,361 miles (45,755 km). Their flight lasted 19 days, 21 hours, and 47 minutes. They landed safely in Egypt. Because of this amazing achievement, Piccard received many awards.
The Solar Impulse Project
In November 2003, Piccard announced a new project. He wanted to build a plane that could fly long distances using only solar power. This plane was named Solar Impulse. He started building it in 2007. He did some short test flights in 2009 with André Borschberg. By 2006, he had gathered a team of 50 experts from six countries. About 100 other advisors also helped them.
Many private companies and people in Europe helped pay for the project. The Solar Impulse became a European aircraft because of all the international help.
Solar Impulse Takes Flight
In 2010, the first Solar Impulse plane (Si1) made its first flight at night. In 2011, it landed in Paris. In 2012, it made its first flight between continents, going from Switzerland to Morocco. André Borschberg flew the first part, and Piccard flew the second part. In 2013, Piccard and Borschberg flew across the United States. They started in California and ended in New York City, making several stops along the way.
Flying Around the World
In 2015, the Solar Impulse team set out to make history again. They wanted to complete the first flight around the world using only solar power. The journey started on March 9 and was planned to take about five months. They made stops in places like India, China, and the United States to switch pilots. Piccard flew the ninth part of the trip. He landed the Solar Impulse 2 (Si2) in California on April 24, 2016, after flying for three days from Hawaii.
André Borschberg and Piccard finished their flight around the world on July 26, 2016. On the same day, they announced they would create the World Alliance for Clean Technologies. For his part in the Solar Impulse project, Bertrand Piccard received the Mungo Park Medal in 2018.
Working for a Cleaner World
In December 2015, while still flying around the world, Piccard was named a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Programme. This means he helps promote the UN's environmental goals.
After finishing the flight, Piccard and the Solar Impulse Foundation started the non-profit World Alliance for Clean Technologies. This group works to find and promote clean technologies. In 2018, Piccard said he had collected over 500 ideas from around the world that could protect the environment and also make money.
In May 2018, Piccard's Foundation launched the "Efficient Solutions Label." This label is given to solutions that are good for the environment and also make economic sense. Experts evaluate these solutions. By 2021, the foundation had found and certified 1000 such solutions!
Hydrogen Car Record
In 2019, Piccard set a record for how far a hydrogen car could drive without needing more fuel. He drove a Hyundai Nexo hydrogen-powered SUV for 778 kilometers (483.4 miles) in Europe. He did this to show how useful hydrogen technology can be.
Solar Impulse Foundation
After his amazing solar flight around the world, Bertrand Piccard started the Solar Impulse Foundation. Its main goal is to find new and smart ways to solve environmental problems. They want to show these solutions to leaders to help the world move towards a more sustainable economy.
To find these "clean solutions," the Solar Impulse Foundation created the "Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label" in May 2018. This special certification is given after a careful review by independent experts. It means the product, process, or service is both good for the environment and makes money. The label is given to solutions that help achieve goals related to water, energy, and sustainable cities. In April 2021, Piccard and his foundation reached their goal of finding the first 1000 certified solutions!
Family History
Piccard's family has been exploring for four generations! His grandfather, Auguste Piccard, was the first person to fly to the stratosphere (a high part of Earth's atmosphere) in 1931. His father, Jacques Piccard, was the first to go to the very bottom of the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the ocean, in 1960. His great uncle Jean Félix Piccard and aunt Jeannette Piccard were also balloonists. Their son, Donald Piccard, was the first to fly across the English Channel in a balloon. Bertrand Piccard once said that his family's motto is: if someone says something is impossible, that's "exactly why we try to do it."
Awards and Honours
Bertrand Piccard has received many awards for his bravery and achievements:
- Honorary Professor and Honorary Doctor of Science and Letters
- Mungo Park Medal 2018
- Gold Medal of Youth and Sport
- Harmon Trophy
- Hubbard Medal (1999)
- Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement (1999)
- FAI Gold Air Medal
- Winner of the first trans-Atlantic balloon race (1992 Chrysler Challenge)
Légion d'Honneur (Chevalier)
Officer of the Order of the Alawites- Médaille de l'aéronautique
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See also
In Spanish: Bertrand Piccard para niños
- List of firsts in aviation
- List of circumnavigations
