Pesquet recalls his return Landing and readjustment

Jun 2, 2017

In his first post-flight interview in Cologne, Thomas Pesquet says he feels very well but that returning to gravity after six months makes movement difficult and disrupts his balance. Doctors help him avoid falling, and he describes his gradual readaptation as normal. Asked about the Soyuz return, he says extensive simulator practice meant there were no real surprises, while acknowledging sensations that cannot be simulated. He recalls watching spacecraft sections separate, sparks and flames during atmospheric reentry until the window was charred, loads of about 4.5 G dropping to 3.5, and being tossed around for 20–25 seconds as the parachute opened. He says the ground seemed exceptionally close after months in orbit. He likens the landing's sensation to a small car accident with rollovers: the capsule hit hard, rolled a little and stabilized, and rescuers opened the hatch within minutes. He already misses the ease of weightlessness and his station colleagues, wishes he could help them, and calls the mission phenomenal. He is happy to return to familiar people and surroundings but nostalgic about leaving an exceptional environment, unsure whether he will experience it again.

Thomas Pesquet returned to Earth in Soyuz MS-03 at the end of his roughly six-month Proxima mission, landing in Kazakhstan on June 2, 2017. In the following day's Cologne interview he recalls capsule separation, fiery atmospheric reentry, substantial G loads, a jostling parachute descent and a hard touchdown followed by some capsule rolling and prompt rescue. He says extensive simulator preparation helped him remain calm and that the return went well. He feels very well but reports balance and movement difficulties as he gradually readapts to gravity with doctors' help. He is happy to be home while already missing weightlessness and his ISS colleagues. His car-accident comparison describes the landing's sensation; it does not establish a spacecraft accident or a diagnosed illness.