Space Industry and Business News
SPACE TRAVEL
French, Belgian astronauts named next Europeans to fly to ISS
French, Belgian astronauts named next Europeans to fly to ISS
by AFP Staff Writers
Paris (AFP) May 22, 2024

France's Sophie Adenot and Belgium's Raphael Liegeois will be the first two from a new class of European astronauts to blast off to the International Space Station, the European Space Agency said Wednesday.

Adenot will join the crew onboard the ISS, around 400 kilometres (250 miles) above Earth, in 2026 for a six-month mission, after which she will be replaced by Liegeois.

The pair were among five new European Space Agency (ESA) astronauts selected in 2022 out more than 20,000 applicants.

"I am very happy to fly first," Adenot told AFP in an interview from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The 41-year-old engineer and helicopter pilot will become the second French woman onboard the ISS, after Claudie Haignere in 2001.

"Claudie inspired me lot -- we are in contact often, she gives me advice," Adenot said.

French Higher Education Minister Sylvie Retailleau said it was "a real source of pride".

"Sophie Adenot is a model of scientific commitment for all our young girls," she told AFP.

Liegeois, a 36-year-old Belgian-Luxembourg balloon pilot with a background in neuroscience, said in a statement that he "simply cannot wait to tackle this new upcoming challenge".

The pair -- along with Switzerland's Marco Sieber, the UK's Rosemary Coogan and Spain's Pablo Alvarez Fernandez -- officially graduated as astronauts in April following a year of basic training in Germany.

ESA chief Josef Aschbacher told AFP that including the seven astronauts from the 2009 class, the previous graduation year, it will be "the largest number we've ever had at one time".

The five newly minted astronauts will "all be flying 2030, which is good news," he added.

Adenot said the group got along well, united by suffering through brutal survival courses in the Pyrenees mountains at temperatures below minus 10 degrees Celsius (14 Fahrenheit).

Now in Houston, she says she is keen to "really get stuck into the nitty gritty of training", including preparing for six months of weightlessness on board the ISS.

Aschbacher said that "sending two newly graduated ESA astronauts to space is a crucial stepping-stone in the path of preserving European knowhow, ensuring Europe's long-term participation in ongoing programmes such as Artemis," NASA's upcoming Moon programme.

So does Adenot dream of setting foot on the Moon?

She admitted to thinking about it, but said she preferred to proceed "in stages" and currently has her sights set on the ISS.

For one, she is getting ready to take in Earth from the viewpoint of space.

"Experienced astronauts tell that it is a total wonder -- beyond imaginable," Adenot said.

Related Links
Space Tourism, Space Transport and Space Exploration News

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
SPACE TRAVEL
ISS National Lab offers up to $750,000 for technology development in space
Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 15, 2024
The International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory is calling for flight concepts for technology development that use the space environment of the orbiting laboratory. This solicitation, "Technology Development and Applied Research Leveraging the ISS National Lab," invites proposals in various technology areas, including chemical and material synthesis, translational medicine, in-space edge computing, and in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM). It also includes the use of space st ... read more

SPACE TRAVEL
10 Benefits of Using 360Learning for Your Company's Learning Needs

Cool by design 3D printing

Unlocking the secrets of supercritical fluids

Where is the Best Place to Buy Used Books?

SPACE TRAVEL
EchoStar secures contract to provide 5G to US Navy and agencies

China launches communication test satellites into medium-Earth orbit

CesiumAstro provides multi-beam Ka-band payloads for Rocket Lab under Tranche 2 contract

Rocket Lab Advances SDA Satellite Program with New Subcontractor Partnerships

SPACE TRAVEL
SPACE TRAVEL
Magic Lane secures 3 million euro to enhance location intelligence capabilities

China Encourages BeiDou System Integration in Electric Bicycles

Estonia summons Russian envoy over GPS jamming

OneNav introduces new L5-direct GNSS receiver in response to increased GPS jamming

SPACE TRAVEL
UK air force pilot dies in Spitfire crash

Australian court says ex-US Marine pilot 'eligible' for extradition

Climate activists cause disruption at German airport

NASA to design sustainable jet engine core

SPACE TRAVEL
Nvidia profits soar on demand for AI power

Turning up the heat on next-generation semiconductors

China invests $47 billion in largest ever chip fund

Rapidus 'last opportunity' to put Japan back on global chip map

SPACE TRAVEL
NASA announces new AI-driven weather, climate modeling tools

Earth Observation advances with Marble Imaging and Reflex Aerospace partnership

NASA's Compact Infrared Cameras Enable New Science

NASA, IBM Research to Release New AI Model for Weather, Climate

SPACE TRAVEL
New strategy for removing persistent PFAS contaminants unveiled

Panama president-elect proposes 'calm' talks on contested mine

Judge tosses California children's pollution suit against US govt

Nepal's nature threatened by new development push: conservationists

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.