Emmanuel Macron announced a partnership on Monday between France and US startup Vast Space. Thomas Pesquet will command a private mission to the International Space Station scheduled for mid-2027.
The president made the announcement at the end of the Choose France summit. France thus becomes the first country to ally with a New Space actor for commercial space projects.
Vast Space, founded in 2021 by Jed McCaleb, plans to use SpaceX capsules. Two French astronauts, including Thomas Pesquet as commander and Arnaud Prost, will take part in the mission to the ISS and tests of the private Haven-1 station.
The Centre national d’études spatiales (Cnes) and French space industry will provide their expertise. This partnership marks the first collaboration of its kind between a state and a young private space sector company.
