ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet is preparing for his second mission to the International Space Station. This B-roll footage shows him training in operations of the Station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm with astronaut trainer Lionel Ferra at ESA’s European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany. 

The launch date for Thomas’ next mission is dependent on the successful first missions of the SpaceX Crew Dragon and Boeing Starliner spacecraft. However, it is anticipated he will fly in 2021.

The initial stages of Thomas’ mission training are designed as a refresher. He recently completed his annual re-certification to dive in NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) and ESA’s Neutral Buoyancy Facility (NBF) alongside Matthias Maurer and Alexander Gerst, as well as this Canadarm2 robotic arm refresher training at EAC.

Once it is clear which spacecraft Thomas will fly on, and the launch date has been set, he will begin training for that spacecraft as well as the many European and international science experiments he will perform while on board.