28/11/2019 (Agence Europe) – French astronaut Thomas Pesquet could return for a new mission on the International Space Station (ISS) as early as 2021, the European Space Agency confirmed at the end of the ministerial meeting held on Thursday 28 November (see other news). The financing of the ISS over the next 3 years, approved by the ESA member countries, “will enable Thomas Pesquet to go into space soon”, said the French Minister of Higher Education and Research, Frédérique Vidal. ESA Director General Jan Wörner said the Agency wanted to give all astronauts in the 2009 class the opportunity to make two flights on the ISS. The Frenchman carried out his first mission between November 2016 and June 2017. (PH)