An astronaut’s view of Earth
A children’s book by ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet shares his experiences of space and speaks to the concerns of young readers about climate change.
Inspired by his two missions to the International Space Station, ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet has written several books about his experiences in space, including the best-selling photo book Terre(s) and La Terre Entre nos Mains (which has just been made available in English, Spanish, German, Mandarin and Japanese). Now Thomas has written a new book, Thomas Pesquet Raconte Notre Planète Bleue, specifically aimed at younger readers aged eight and upwards. The first edition, written in French, was launched by French publisher Flammarion on 18 October 2023.
Thomas Pesquet Raconte Notre Planète Bleue is an inspiring and informative read and would make a welcome addition to any young space fan’s bookshelf. Thomas’s book starts by explaining his job as an ESA astronaut and goes on to provide a vivid account of everyday life on board the International Space Station. He then takes readers on visual a tour of our planet, continent by continent, using spectacular views of the Earth he photographed from the famous cupola window of the International Space Station.
Looking down from orbit 400 km above the Earth’s surface gave Thomas a unique perspective on our home planet and its fragile beauty. He clearly explains what is seen in each photograph, from crowded cities such as New York to the desolate peaks of the Himalayas. Thomas also reveals how images from space can reveal important insights into environmental impacts, including melting ice sheets, deforestation and devastating wildfires.
The importance of space in monitoring and fighting the effects of climate change is a key message for ESA, so it is great that children can discover these issues through the first-hand experience of an ESA astronaut. Young readers are a particularly important audience for ESA as they will grow up to be the European citizens of tomorrow and the next generation of space explorers and scientists.
Astronauts are valuable ambassadors for space and it is great that some ESA astronauts have gone on to become prolific authors. There is an extra hidden benefit to some of the books they have written in the form of royalties donated to charity on behalf of ESA.
Royalties from Thomas Pesquet’s first books have raised more than 500 000 euros for the Les Restos du Coeur charity to date. The royalties for this new book, Thomas Pesquet Raconte Notre Planete Bleue, will go to Aviation Sans Frontières, a humanitarian charity that Thomas has been an ambassador for since 2019.
With a new limited edition collector’s version of La Terre Entre nos Mains and the publication of Thomas’s autobiography Ma Vie Sans Gravité also out in October 2023, the spotlight will be on Thomas Pesquet the author as well as the astronaut this autumn.
