Michel Tognini during training in Houston

Michel Tognini during training at the NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, United States.

Tognini participated in the “Antares” mission from 27 July–10 August 1992. This was his first flight to Mir, where he spent 14 days carrying out a program of joint Soviet-French experiments.

His second flight was on STS-93 which took place from 22-27 July 1999. During this mission his primary task was to assist in the deployment of the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, and to conduct a spacewalk if needed. The Chandra X-Ray Observatory is designed to conduct comprehensive studies of the universe, and the telescope will enable scientists to study exotic phenomena such as exploding stars, quasars, and black holes.

On 1 May 2003, Tognini left the European Astronaut Corps and was assigned as Head of the Astronaut Division at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC), Cologne, Germany.