At a virtual press conference on Tuesday February 16, the European Space Agency (ESA) strongly encouraged women to apply, with the aim of strengthening parity.
A policy supported by Thomas Pesquet, in full preparations for his second flight, in April, to the International Space Station (ISS).
The launch is scheduled for April 20 and Thomas Pesquet, who is currently in California, is currently focusing on the "Dragon" capsule.
It will be attached to the American Falcon 9 rocket, from Elon Musk's SpaceX company, which will take it to the ISS with three other astronauts: Megan McArthur and Shane Kimbrough, from NASA, and Akihiko Hoshide from Jaxa (l 'Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency).
On this official portrait of our crew, it looks like we each have a super power!
🦸🏻♀️🦸🏻♂️🦸🏼🦸🏻 ... Who do you think has which?
😉 # 4fantastic pic.twitter.com/OB8FJrBv1B
- Thomas Pesquet (@Thom_astro) February 11, 2021
In his interview with France 24, Thomas Pesquet looks back on the various stages he had to go through to finally be able to join ESA in 2008. The selection was then spread over a year.
And the 42-year-old Frenchman now hopes to be able to support those whose candidacy will be accepted.
With AFP
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