French astronaut Thomas Pesquet will return to the International Space Station for a scientific mission in 2027 [1].
This mission marks a significant step in maintaining France's presence in low-Earth orbit and advancing microgravity research through a partnership with private industry.
Pesquet will be joined by fellow astronaut Arnaud Prost [3]. The two French astronauts are scheduled to travel aboard a Crew Dragon spacecraft [4]. This will be the third flight for Pesquet [2].
The mission is designed as a short-term scientific endeavor focused on microgravity research [1]. While some reports describe the mission as an ESA effort, other sources identify it as a private mission organized with the U.S. startup Vast [3].
The CEO of Vast said, “We are proud to launch two French astronauts on Crew Dragon, a true French ambition” [3].
Pesquet has expressed a desire to continue his career in space while transitioning into a mentorship role. He said he hopes to “basculer doucement dans le camp des vétérans, dans un rôle de transmission et d’encadrement” [5].
Despite the short duration of the upcoming flight, Pesquet remains hopeful about his future in orbit. He said, “J’espère que cette mission ne sera pas la dernière” [4].
““J’espère que cette mission ne sera pas la dernière””
The collaboration between European astronauts and a private U.S. entity like Vast signals a shift toward the commercialization of spaceflight. By utilizing private transport to the ISS for scientific research, France can increase the frequency of its astronaut rotations without relying solely on the traditional, slower schedules of national space agencies.
