“In the ISS we realize that we are all in the same boat”

After climbing into the sky, Thomas Pesquet climbs the steps of the Cannes Film Festival. The most experienced European astronaut with 400 days in space was the guest of France Bleu Azur in the 6/9 at 8:15 am.

Thomas Pesquet, how does it feel to come back to the Côte d’Azur?

“I have a lot of friends here and it’s true that leaving my engineering school was my first experience, my first real professional internship. It was here, at Alcatel Espace at the time. It’s a bit of a back to basics for me. every time I come back to the area.”

You almost stole the show from Tom Cruise yesterday on the red carpet

“He still had a lot more people to see him. I don’t think anyone came to see me. It was nice to have a little wink. Aeronautics and space are very close. There are really quite a few boys and girls of my generation who embarked on these professions after seeing Top Gun. Let’s be clear, this film was a bit of a revelation, it makes the job of fighter pilot which was already very nice but it made it even more, even more interesting.”

In the ISS, we saw your photos of the Côte d’Azur, you are a transmitter of knowledge. Today you are going to exchange this afternoon with high school students from Cannes.

_”Unfortunately, it’s much easier to change when you’re young. It’s an important moment where everything is defined. That’s why I like talking to young people. We’re also here on the Côte d’Azur to talk to schoolchildren and young people. If I had to sum it up in one word, it’s d’_try to believe a little bit in the future. It’s true that there are a lot of things that are anxiety-provoking, a lot of challenges to take up for future generations, but still, we have assets. We have ingenuity. The human race can do fantastic things. The space station, for me, is really proof of that. In the International Space Station, it really allows you to realize that we are all somewhat on the same boat and that we have to get along well.

Thomas Pesquet, what is the new challenge of the future? When are you going back up into space?

“I would like to know. I’m going to take some time to rest and then to see my loved ones. Last year I was in the space station, so there, this summer, I think I’ll take a little bit time for me and then it will very quickly follow up with the continuation of human space exploration.”