Highlights of the docking, hatch opening and press conference for the Soyuz MS-03 spacecraft's arrival at the International Space Station on 19 November 2016.

ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet, NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson and Roscosmos commander Oleg Novitsky were launched to the ISS on 17 November from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The trio will spend six months in space working and living on the ISS.

The Proxima mission is the ninth long-duration mission for an ESA astronaut. It is named after the closest star to the Sun, continuing a tradition of naming missions with French astronauts after stars and constellations.

During Proxima, Thomas will perform around 50 scientific experiments for ESA and France’s space agency CNES, as well as take part in many research activities for the other Station partners. The mission is part of ESA’s vision to use Earth-orbiting spacecraft as a place to live and work for the benefit of European society while using the experience to prepare for future voyages of exploration further into the Solar System.

Follow Thomas and his mission via thomaspesquet.esa.int and go to the Proxima mission blog for updates.