posted 06-07-2017 09:18 AM               

Pesquet postage: Stamps mark 'Return to Earth' of French astronaut

On the same day he returned to Earth from the space station, Thomas Pesquet also landed on four new French postage stamps.

La Poste, France's postal service, timed the release of the "Retour sur Terre" ("Return to Earth") commemorative set to coincide with Pesquet's touchdown on Russia's Soyuz MS-03 spacecraft on June 2 after 196 days in space. A member of the European Space Agency's astronaut corps, Pesquet is France's tenth citizen to orbit Earth and the country's third crewmember to live on the International Space Station.

"Discover the unforgettable experiences of Thomas Pesquet with these four stamps," La Poste promotes on its website. "Thomas Pesquet's Proxima mission covers Expeditions 50 and 51 of the International Space Station."

posted 06-27-2017 11:45 AM               

The set of four stamps is limited to 5,520 sheets.

A first day cancel is available. Those interested can send their stamped envelopes and a self-addressed stamped envelope for their return through Aug. 2, 2017 to:

Phil@poste
Service des Oblitérations Premier Jour
ZI Avenue Benoît Frachon
BP 10106 Boulazac
24051 Périgueux Cedex 9

Le Carré d'Encre
13 rue des Mathurins
75009 Paris

posted 06-03-2018 04:11 PM               

Earth as Viewed From the International Space Station by Thomas Pesquet

On June 4, 2018, La Poste issues a booklet of 12 postage stamps with photos taken by Thomas Pesquet during the Proxima mission.

The Earth as viewed from space... by Thomas Pesquet.

The French astronaut from the European Space Agency has a curious mind. During his mission aboard the International Space Station, his program of scientific research in biology and material science filled his days, but he constantly returned looking at our planet to remind us of its wealth, its fascination and its wounds. He gave us breathtaking photos.

The booklet is previewed on June 2, 2018, to commemorate the return of Thomas Pesquet to Earth just a year ago.

The photos that illustrate the 12 stamps represent various landscapes or cities: Snow in Russia, 3 lines of trees / February 16, 2017; Paris in France / April 14, 2017; The Betsiboka River in Madagascar / May 6, 2017; Bijagos Archipelago in Guinea-Bissau / February 4, 2017; Meanders of the Colorado River in the United States / April 14, 2017; Eastern side of the Persian Gulf / December 31, 2016; Irrigated fields and relief in Yemen / January 1, 2017; Spring fields in Spain / April 12, 2017; A road in a no man's land of ice in Canada / December 26, 2016; Melting ice in the Himalayas in China / April 27, 2017; The Island of Noirmoutier in France / February 16, 2017; Coral Reef and Volcanic Island in French Polynesia / March 16, 2017.

Technical information:

• Graphic design: Etienne Thery
  
• Printing: gravure
  
• Booklet size: 256 x 54 mm
  
• Stamp size: 33 x 20 mm
  
• Face value: 0,80 € - Green Letter
  
• Edition: 2,500,000 copies
  
• Sale price of the booklet: 9,60 €
  
• Required information: © ESA/NASA. Earth photographs taken by Thomas Pesquet from the International Space Station.

From June 4, 2018, it will be sold in some post offices; at the shop "Le Carré d'Encre"; at the Museum of La Poste, 21 Avenue du Maine, 75015 Paris; on the website laposte.fr/boutique; by subscription; or by mail.