Former 2021 ESA Astronaut training program applicant
ESA sent me today notice that I did not pass phase 1 (screening) of the selection process. This is of course a very saddening news.
I am however glad for the overall experience, enriching discussions, uplifting sport challenges and above all, the love I received from Marie and the Kids during this short-lived endeavor.
I can only but whish other applicants the very best as they progress through this very unique selection process.
Long live the manned space exploration, long live ESA!
Great family week-end… with a 42.195 km run in the Champagne’s countryside. We left Reims cathedral slightly after 8:30 am with a freezing 4°C but a beautiful sunrise.
Right after 3rd km, I came to meet Alexis, owner of the Champagne Lepaul. We spend the morning together, chatting as we ran in the vineyards. This was a very friendly walk in the park… with the kids running with me across the finish line!
Alexis offered us to try his wine after the marathon, along with his wife’s macarons. Great combo!
Marie had yet another great idea… when she got me this International Plane Station Lego model! Lots of fun to build it with the kids (and customize it slightly).
It reminded me of this LinkedIn post I wrote upon Lego’s Jens Nygaard Knudsen’s death: “I will most probably not become an astronaut 🚀 or a medieval knight ⚔️ …but I am so glad I was given the chance to pretend so as a kid😋”
Let’s see if we can make the dream come true!
#FamilyEndeavour #TeamWork #LegoFan
French aeronauts Montgolfier invented the hot air balloon in 1783. One could say they too took part in the history of space exploration!
This morning, Marie and I took the kids on a flight over Toledo, slowly rising through the air onboard one of Montgolfier brothers’ aircrafts.
It was a quiet seamless flight… and felt we could fly to the moon as it set on the horizon.
Tonight I decided to run by ESA headquarters in Paris to check on my application status… just to find the building was undergoing heavy restructuring.
The good surprise was to find out it was my friend and neighbor Christophe Condamin (Sogelym-Dixence) who was behind this beautiful refurbishment.
Very much looking forward to the inauguration!
As summer nears its end and ESA conveys the first candidates to attend psychological testing, running around Madrid felt like the right thing to do this morning to avoid thinking too hard on why nobody had called me yet…
If I do not hear from ESA recruitment team by mid-September, I’ll run from home to ESA’s HQ in Villafranca del Castillo to get some news regarding my application. That will be a quite interesting 34 km run 🙂
Thomas successfully completed the first of the 2 planned EVAs for this mission. Another incredible moment during which all #SpaceGeeks could live the dream with Thomas and Shane Kimbrough!
Thank you to all ESA and NASA personnels for these magical emotions!
Together with Marie and the kids, we have been watching Thomas getting back to ISS live on NASA feed. From launch preparation yesterday up to Dragon capture and ISS mission 65 welcome ceremony this afternoon, these were unique moments to live.
Thomas, we wish you Godspeed and a complete success for this new mission. You make us all so proud!
I renewed today my medical Class 2 pilot certification with no restrictions. This was a mandatory first step to be able to apply to ESA astronaut training program.
Medical visit per se was uneventful. My esteemed colleague however shared insights on competition: he had already seen 3 medical doctors (latest one was a pediatric cardiology surgeon) out of a total of more than 15 candidates (including astrophysicists, astrobiologists, rocket scientists and airplane pilots). It seems like the bar will be extra high!
I will now compile all other documents (e.g., resume, motivation letter) needed for the application… with a deadline on May 28th. Stay tuned.
With Covid-19 outbreak and all ski lifts closed, this year was the perfect occasion to exercise. Together with my friend Christian, we got up early and went for 2 perfect days of ski/ snowboard touring in Tignes
