On April 22nd, Thomas Pesquet and his three American and Japanese teammates will travel to the International Space Station on board the SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule. On this occasion, France 24’s special correspondents will cover the event and follow Thomas Pesquet during his six-months mission, from the preparations to his return to Earth. For the entire duration of his trip, the astronaut will share his daily life on board the ISS with videos uploaded online and on France 24’s social media pages. 
 

France 24’s journalist Sylvain Rousseau and RFI’s journalist Frédéric Rivière interview
Thomas Pesquet, a few days before he flies to the ISS.

France 24’s correspondents Kéthévane Gorjestani (in English) and Benoît Perrochais (in French) cover the Crew Dragon capsule’s launch, set at 12:11 pm (Paris time) and report live from Cape Canaveral.
The week prior to the launch, the international news channel brings viewers reports and analysis, as well as interviews with expert guests to better understand the stakes of such an event.

Exclusive reports on the ISS’s history and the different missions of the astronauts on board the space station will be available on France 24’s website. Benoît Perrochais will also host a Facebook live in French on Wednesday, April 18 at 6 pm, the day before the launch. Finally, a five-episodes series called “Thomas Pesquet, head in the stars” on the history of the ISS and Thomas Pesquet by Valérie Fouace and Chris Moore will be available online in English, French, Arabic and Spanish.

Episode 1: The ISS, a scientific and political goal

Episode 2: The origins of SpaceX

Episode 3: The ISS, an uncertain future

Episode 4: Ten Frenchmen in space

Episode 5: Thomas Pesquet, six months in zero gravity


*Paris time