Thomas with Fluidics

ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet works on the Fluidics experiment inside the Space Station's European Columbus laboratory.

Posting on social media, Thomas wrote: "The spheres for the Fluidics experiment. One liquid is to help get every drop of fuel out of satellite fuel-tanks, the other liquid is to understand surface turbulence in liquids. By looking at surface turbulence without gravity interfering researchers can single out what influences behaviour that forms ripples. This could help us better understand ocean currents and wave formation on Earth."

Thomas' Proxima mission was the ninth long-duration mission for an ESA astronaut. It was named after the closest star to the Sun, continuing a tradition of naming missions with French astronauts after stars and constellations.

During Proxima, Thomas performed around 50 scientific experiments for ESA and France’s space agency CNES, as well as took part in many research activities for the other Station partners. The mission was part of ESA’s vision to use Earth-orbiting spacecraft as a place to live and work for the benefit of European society while using the experience to prepare for future voyages of exploration further into the Solar System.

Connect with Thomas via http://thomaspesquet.esa.int