France Books 2 Vast Missions for 2027 as Thomas Pesquet Set to Command Private ISS Flight
Updated
Updated · spacedaily.com · Jun 4
France Books 2 Vast Missions for 2027 as Thomas Pesquet Set to Command Private ISS Flight
3 articles · Updated · spacedaily.com · Jun 4
Summary
France has secured two Vast missions for 2027: Thomas Pesquet is slated to command a private ISS flight, while ESA reserve astronaut Arnaud Prost will join the first crewed Haven-1 mission as flight test engineer.
NASA’s 2025 policy change made the ISS assignment possible by allowing experienced ESA, CSA or JAXA veterans—not only former NASA astronauts—to command private station missions, positioning Pesquet to become the first non-NASA commander pending multinational approval.
Pesquet’s ISS mission, called PAM-6 by CNES, is planned for no earlier than summer 2027 on SpaceX Crew Dragon, with the remaining seats expected to go to professional astronauts from countries tied diplomatically to France.
Prost’s flight carries more execution risk because Haven-1 has not launched yet; Vast’s single-module commercial station is now targeted for 2027 after earlier schedule slips, with crews also due to fly on Dragon.
The deal underscores how European governments are buying post-ISS access from U.S. companies: Vast also signed a UK agreement a day later, while France is hosting the company’s European headquarters in Paris.
Is France’s deal with a US startup the beginning of the end for a unified European human spaceflight strategy?
As nations buy seats on private stations, will profit or science dictate the future of human research in orbit?
What happens to national space programs if the startups they depend on for space access ultimately go bankrupt?
France’s 2026 Commercial Spaceflight Deal with Vast: Ensuring European Access to LEO After the ISS
Overview
France has entered a landmark commercial spaceflight deal with US company Vast, marking a new era in its space ambitions. This agreement secures France’s continued access to low Earth orbit as the International Space Station nears retirement. Two French astronauts, Thomas Pesquet and Arnaud Prost, are set for missions in 2027, expanding France’s human spaceflight experience and supporting the development of future commercial space stations. These missions will use SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket, highlighting France’s commitment to leveraging commercial partnerships for national objectives and maintaining a strong presence in space exploration.