ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet working on the OsteoOmics experiment in the International Space Station.

The NASA experiment is looking at why astronauts’ bones lose density in space on a molecular level by looking at the osteoclasts that cause bone to dissolve and osteoblasts that build bone. In space human muscle and bone wastes away much like happens with people on Earth as they grow older but in accelerated form.

During his Proxima mission, Thomas will perform around 50 scientific experiments for ESA and France’s space agency CNES as well as take part in many research activities for the other Station partners.

The mission is 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.

More about the Proxima mission: http://www.esa.int/proxima
Connect with Thomas Pesquet: http://thomaspesquet.esa.int