Thomas planting his tree with Oleg and Peggy.

Thomas planting his tree with Oleg and Peggy.

Cosmonaut alley with some of the older trees.

Cosmonaut alley with some of the older trees.

All cosmonauts and astronauts that fly with the Soyuz spacecraft plant a tree shortly before their first flight. Thomas Pesquet is no exception and he planted his trees on 10 November 2016, seven days before launch.

Thomas’ crewmates Peggy Whitson and Oleg Novitsky have both flown on a Soyuz spacecraft before so they didn’t plant a new tree but helped Thomas with his.

This tradition started with Yuri Gagarin, the first person to orbit Earth, when he planted his tree near the Cosmonaut Hotel in Baikonur in 1961. Naturally his tree is one of the largest.

Below is a gallery of all the trees from the ESA astronauts of the class of 2009, taken by Thomas:

Andreas Mogensen flew a 10-day mission 'iriss' in 2015

Andreas Mogensen flew a 10-day mission ‘iriss’ in 2015

Alexander Gerst went to the International Space Station in 2015 for his Blue Dot mission.

Alexander Gerst went to the International Space Station in 2015 for his Blue Dot mission.

Tim Peake's Principia mission ended after six months on the International Space Station this year.Tim Peake's Principia mission ended after six months on the International Space Station this year.

Tim Peake’s Principia mission ended after six months on the International Space Station this year.

Thomas Pesquet's tree

Thomas Pesquet’s tree

Samantha Cristoforetti spen 199 days on the Space Station in 2015.

Samantha Cristoforetti spent 199 days on the Space Station in 2015.

Luca Parmitano flew his Volare mission in 2014

Luca Parmitano flew his Volare mission in 2014