Credits: ESA
A few weeks before the launch of his mission, ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet met with Tanguy de Lamotte, a French skipper participating in the eighth edition of the round-the-world race Vendée Globe. Setting off in the same month, the two plan to keep in touch throughout their respective journeys.
Credits: ESA
During their encounter at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, the two underlined the similarities between the occupation of a seaman and an astronaut as well as between the elements they will be facing very soon: space and sea.
During the visit, Thomas showed the navigator how he prepared for his mission in space. Both born in 1978, they share more than a year of birth: the two found a number of commonalities between their professions.
“I was very interested in drawing a parallel between my adventure and that of a sailor participating in the Vendée Globe. I have a lot of admiration for people who spend years preparing for the experience of a lifetime. Their journey is absolutely fascinating and similar to what I will experience myself”, said Thomas.
The two men talked about the stages of their preparation, technical aspects and the importance of having a team of ground staff. Tanguy’s non-stop trip resembles Thomas’s mission in space: both face a hostile environment and will need to adapt to being in a confined space far away from family and friends, not to mention the physical, technical and psychological challenges.
Credits: ESA
It comes as no surprise that the two explorers share personality traits and have a similar state of mind shortly before their departure.
“Both of us are driven by our passion to explore the unknown and our desire to go where nobody’s been before. We like unconventional, extreme lifestyles and we found it interesting to compare them. Both of us hope that our stories will inspire future generations to chase their dreams,” said Tanguy.
Their encounter was also the occasion to launch an unprecedented collaboration between an astronaut and a navigator: Thomas and Tanguy will be calling each other frequently by phone, one from the International Space Station, the other in a monohull yacht. The calls will allow them to compare their daily lives and share them with the public.
About Tanguy de Lamotte
Participants of the Vendée Globe travel a distance of over 40 000 km, passing the Cape of Good Hope and the Cape Horn. Tanguy, an architect by profession, is an experienced navigator and is participating in the race for the second time. His goal this time is to sail around the world in less than 84 days.
The eighth Vendée Globe will set sail from les Sables d’Olonne on Sunday 6th November 2016.
Credits: ESA
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