-
La Voie Bleue: European Cycle Route of the Year is in France
700km bike path linking Luxembourg and Lyon has been crowned winner of the 2026 title
-
Before and after: Garonne river floods in south-west France
Satellite images show extent of flooding from back-to-back storms in February
-
Home insurance increases expected in France after floods
Compensation costs for the recent storms and flooding across the west and south-west is estimated to be in the billions of euros
French astronaut next International Space Station commander
Thomas Pesquet will be the first French person take on the role when he travels to space in April
French astronaut Thomas Pesquet will become the first French person, and only third European, to be an International Space Station (ISS) commander when he travels to space in April.
The European Space Agency announced on March 16 that Mr Pesquet, 43, would take on the role after being launched to the ISS on American space capsule SpaceX Crew Dragon.
It said: “the commander of the space station is responsible for daily management, organising the team’s work and takes decisions in emergency situations – even though the whole team has been highly trained and knows what to do.”
Take off is planned for April 22, and Mr Pesquet will leave Europe this week to begin final preparations at the Johnson Space Centre in Texas, United States.
How I feel just five weeks from launch day . Last week in Europe and so much still to do. Must remember to turn off the lights and pay the bills before I leave! pic.twitter.com/fDcRAARQic
— Thomas Pesquet (@Thom_astro) March 18, 2021
Mr Pesquet, who was born in Rouen, is expected to spend six months on the ISS as station commander.
In a message on Twitter he said that he was “honoured and happy” to have been offered the role.
Advertisement
This will be Mr Pesquet’s second space mission.
