Thomas Pesquet will return to space in 2027: the French astronaut will command his third mission

French astronaut Thomas Pesquet has announced that he will return to the International Space Station (ISS) in July 2027, as part of a mission conducted with the American space company Vast. Speaking on franceinfo radio Wednesday morning, he said he felt "lucky to be able to return" to space for a third mission after those of 2016 and 2021.

This new expedition will mark a significant milestone in his career, as he is expected, subject to final approval by the relevant international authorities, to take command of the mission. This represents an additional responsibility for someone who has become one of the most recognizable faces in European space exploration.

A highly anticipated return after a five-year absence

Thomas Pesquet explains that the preparation will be particularly intense. His last mission aboard the ISS was almost five years ago, and training will have to be accelerated to be ready for the launch scheduled for summer 2027.

Despite the unprecedented nature of this mission, made possible through a partnership between France and the American company Vast, the astronaut emphasizes that the objectives will remain the same: to reach the International Space Station and to continue the scientific work carried out in orbit.

The planned end of the ISS is in sight.

This mission comes as the International Space Station nears the end of its operational life. Its decommissioning is currently scheduled for 2030, prompting space agencies to maximize research programs and scientific experiments until then.

At the same time, another French astronaut, Arnaud Prost, will also participate in a space mission in 2027 to test a future private station intended to succeed the ISS.

A new generation of space stations

Aged 49, Thomas Pesquet makes no secret of his ambition to continue the adventure beyond 2030. He hopes in particular to be able to participate in the first missions aboard the future commercial space stations that will gradually replace the ISS.

For the French astronaut, this transition represents "a new chapter in space exploration" and could open a new era of cooperation between public agencies and private actors in space exploration.