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Proxima: new space mission

Proxima is the name of the mission to be carried out by the astronaut Thomas Pesquet. After his initial selection in 2009, and several long years of training, Thomas will set off on his first mission from Baikonur on 15 November 2016. The mission is scheduled to last 6 months.

He will be the 10th French person to go into space and the 4th to stay on board the International Space Station (ISS). No French astronaut has been on the ISS since Leopold Eyharts in 2008. Thomas Pesquet’s mission is therefore a pretty big event!

 

During his stay on the ISS, he will carry out several scientific experiments. He will contribute to 62 experiments coordinated by the ESA and CNES, as well as to 55 other experiments for the American, Canadian and Japanese space agencies. Thomas will therefore have a busy schedule on top of his daily sports sessions, meals, moments of relaxation, sleep, etc.

The experiments carried out on behalf of the European scientific community aim to improve our understanding of the human body, biology and physics, and test new technologies on board the ISS.

 

MEDES and Proxima

 

MEDES is participating in the Proxima mission through its collaboration with CADMOS (the French centre for the development of microgravity applications and space operations) concerning the physiological aspects of the experiment, and with the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, as regards the monitoring of astronaut training and medical support.

In addition to a MEDES team seconded to CADMOS, MEDES directly contributed to preparing some of the seven experiments prepared and supervised by CNES.

 

More information on specific experiments prepared by CNES: click here.

 

 

 

Focus on experiments carried out with MEDES support