“
Take-off is a phase we could do without!
»: In the city of space, in Toulouse, the stress gave way to the relief to see Thomas Pesquet,"
the child of the country
", fly to the international space station.
Read also: Watch live the take-off of Thomas Pesquet aboard SpaceX's Crew-2 capsule
In the reconstituted control cabin at the Cité de l'Espace, scientists from the National Center for Space Studies (Cnes) and the European Space Agency (Esa) are agitated. In front of them, eight screens retransmit the images of the takeoff, and a visualization of the advance of the ISS is projected on the entire wall. The tension is mounting as the fateful hour of take-off approaches. “
We know everything that happens in the minutes before takeoff, and every second, we can stop the countdown and have to start all over again
”, explains Philippe Droneau, director in charge of the Cité de l 'space. “
The launch is a phase we could do without,
” he breathes. Next to him, Grégory Navarro, head ofexperience for the Alpha mission, abounds: "
we are always a little anxious because these are complex technological objects, but there are so many competent people who have worked on them that it should be okay ...
”Next to the screens, the seconds scroll on the countdown .
The names of the astronauts already present parade on a luminous band, in red, Thomas Pesquet will join them soon.
"
They take off in three minutes, it looks good, they have passed a lot of stages,
" reassures Philippe Droneau.
The voice detailing the unfolding of the takeoff in Florida is heard.
The pressure is mounting.
Beginnings at CNES
“
From now on, no more human intervention. Everything goes automatically,
”comments Philippe Droneau. Suddenly, the hubbub is extinguished, replaced by an overwhelming silence. "
Ten, nine, eight ...
" is the start of the countdown in Florida. With their eyes riveted on the eight screens, the scientists from ESA and Cnes hold their breath. Fire erupts from the reactors, and the white SpaceX rocket turns into a red ball, propelled towards the ISS. Two timid hand claps break the silence, immediately joined by thunderous applause. At the Cité de l'Espace, we breathe better. "That's it
Thomas has gone to space!
», Exclaims Maurice Marnat, engineer at Cnes.
For the scientists present, the departure of Thomas Pesquet, who started at Cnes as an engineer, represents a particular emotion. “
It's a pride to see him go and to work for that. He is the child of the country!
», Affirms Grégory Navarro, experience manager for the Alpha mission. At the Cité de l'Espace, Thomas Pesquet is everywhere: on screens, images of his previous experiences on the International Space Station (ISS) are projected. Pesquet also represents the face of Cnes, whose engineers are rarely brought to light, the model of French space exploration. “
I am very proud as a former astronaut because Thomas is very good,
” says Philippe Perrin. "
Thomas, it's a desire to succeed, I think that we are in dire need of role models like him: people who take risks, who work.
"
To read also: Thomas Pesquet: "The one who takes off"
At her side, Claudie Haigneré, the first European to go into space, is "
moved to relive these strong moments
" and "
proud to know that there is a new generation of French astronauts
".
The successful take-off also marks the start of many experiments for CNES and ESA.
"
From Monday, we can start the space experiments, details Maurice Marnat."
