Thomas Pesquet: a return to "normal" life not so simple
Thomas Pesquet,, during a press conference broadcast from Cologne, November 12, 2021. AP - Rolf Vennenbernd
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
Thomas Pesquet returned to Earth on Tuesday, November 9 after 200 days in orbit.
A return always a little complicated for the astronauts, which the Frenchman evoked during a press conference in Cologne.
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Thomas Pesquet took a shower.
The anecdote may make you smile, but returning to normal life after six months in space is not so easy for astronauts.
“
When you arrive, obviously, any movement of the head makes you a little sick.
We have parasitic accelerations.
It makes us a little dizzy, so we try to stay stable,
”explains the Frenchman, just returned from his second stay aboard the International Space Station.
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To read also: Space: Thomas Pesquet in Cologne to rebuild his health, before leaving ... further
“
I remember, during my previous mission, being three days after landing in a traffic jam here in Cologne.
It was a completely phantasmagorical experience,
says Thomas Pesquet.
I was like, "What am I doing here in a car? Two days ago, I was in a space station".
But we will have to get used to it again, resume a normal life
”.
Many experiences
A life that is only normal in name, since the astronaut's daily life will be turned upside down for many more weeks.
On the program, many experiments and samples taken from his person to see how his body has evolved during his stay in space.
During this second stay, Thomas Pesquet was confronted with an emergency situation on October 15, with the accidental loss of control of the orientation of the vessel, caused by the inadvertent ignition of a thruster from the Russian Soyuz MS- vessel. 18, docked at the ISS. He also had to take on the brand new role of captain, responsible for keeping the "little space family" together.
Thomas Pesquet indeed also insisted on the importance of the "psychological profile" of the astronauts and the contacts with the close relations, estimating that "
the key is that people are permanently occupied
", to avoid the thoughts which could "
damage morale a bit
”.
Aware of the magical side of his mission, he nonetheless trivialized, with malice "
the space station, if we have nothing to do, it's a bit like a prison with a very beautiful view, and some funny things like floating
".
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Also to listen: Thomas Pesquet's logbook: in the “cockpit” of the International Space Station
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Thomas Pesquet