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.