Raymond Hoofs

Venus Express

My name is Raymond Hoofs, I am from Dutch origin and I graduated from the
faculty of aerospace technology (Delft University of Technology) in May
2000. During my studies I worked as a stagaire in the USA (working for NASA
Kennedy Space Center, Florida) and in Brazil (working for the Brazilian
Space Agency, INPE, in Sao Paolo). 
I did my graduation project at ESTEC on the science Operations for ESA's
comet-chasing mission Rosetta. After graduation I continued this work and
got involved in the Rosetta test campaign (in Italy) and launch campaign (in
Kourou, French Guyana). With the launch and commissioning (in ESOC, Germany)
I completed my Rosetta work and moved to the Venus Expres Science Operations
Centre (VSOC - at that time located at ESTEC). Since Summer 2008 the VSOC
was moved to ESAC (Spain) where I now work as the Ground Segment Manager of
Venus Express. 
My science interests are mostly related to Venus, especially in view of
comparative planetology. However, I try to stay in touch with science in
general while focussing on the science studied by all ESAs science missions.
Furthermore I am trying to stay in touch with overal Space related
developments (launcher developments, space tourism, etc.).