Alpha Archive
ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet's second mission to the International Space Station
ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet returned to the International Space Station for a second mission called Alpha, after the star Alpha Centauri, located in the same system as Proxima.
Thomas took a new ride to space and was the first European to leave Earth on the SpaceX Crew Dragon launching from Florida, USA. The crew of four included NASA astronauts Megan McArthur and Shane Kimbrough, who was with Thomas on the International Space Station during his Proxima mission, as well as Japanese astronaut Aki Hoshide.
Launch: 23 April 2021, 09:49:02 GMT (10:49:02 CEST)
Launch site: Florida, USA
Spacecraft: SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour
Expeditions: 65/66
Docking: 24 April 2021, 09:08 GMT (10:08 CEST)
Crewmates: NASA astronauts Megan MacArthur and Shane Kimbrough, Japanese astronaut Aki Hoshide
Splashdown: 9 November 2021, 03:33 GMT (04:33 CET)
Landing site: Pensacola, Florida, USA
- 4 spacewalks
- 1st ESA Dragon rider
- 1st French commander
