ESA astronaut Leopold Eyharts

ESA astronaut Leopold Eyharts
Name	Léopold Eyharts
Caption	Léopold Eyharts in 2008
Birth date	28 September 1957
Birth place	Le Cannet-des-Maures, Var, France
Nationality	French
Occupation	Test pilot, Astronaut
Rank	Général de brigade aérienne (retired)
Missions	Soyuz TM-27, STS-122, Expedition 16

ESA astronaut Leopold Eyharts Léopold Eyharts is a French astronaut and former military pilot who flew long-duration missions to Mir and the International Space Station (ISS). A graduate of French École de l'air and the Empire Test Pilots' School, Eyharts served with the French Air Force, flew on Soyuz and Space Shuttle vehicles, and contributed to orbital assembly and scientific experiments across programs including CNES, European Space Agency, and NASA.

Early life and education

Born in Le Cannet-des-Maures in the Var (department), Eyharts studied at the Lycée militaire de Saint-Cyr system before entering the École de l'air at Salon-de-Provence Air Base. During his formative years he trained alongside officers destined for commands linked to Aéronavale cooperation, NATO partnerships with SHAPE, and Franco-European aerospace programs involving Dassault Aviation and SNECMA. He later attended the Empire Test Pilots' School in the United Kingdom, complementing advanced studies at French staff colleges associated with École de guerre curricula and exchange programs with US Air Force Test Pilot School instructors.

Military and test pilot career

Eyharts' military career began as a pilot in the French Air Force flying types developed by Dassault Aviation and engines by SNECMA. He served in squadrons deployed to missions coordinated with NATO operations and multinational exercises with units from the Royal Air Force, German Air Force, and Italian Air Force. Selected for test pilot duties, he flew prototypes and converted aircraft on programs linked to companies such as Dassault, Aérospatiale, and British Aerospace, performing trials that interfaced with agencies like DGA and industrial partners including Thales and Airbus. His test career included cooperative evaluations with personnel from the Royal Navy aviation branches and exchange postings tied to the French Ministry of Defence procurement committees.

ESA selection and astronaut training

Eyharts was selected during cooperative selection initiatives involving CNES and the European Space Agency personnel offices, joining a cadre of astronauts who trained at ESA's European Astronaut Centre in Cologne. His training itinerary incorporated courses at NASA Johnson Space Center, simulations at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, and systems training involving hardware from Roscosmos and Boeing. He undertook spacecraft-specific preparations for Soyuz operations with instructors from Roskosmos and rendezvous and docking procedures used during Space Shuttle missions in conjunction with United Launch Alliance-style integration teams and mission planners from JAXA liaison offices.

Spaceflights and mission summaries

Eyharts first flew to Mir aboard Soyuz TM-27 as part of international exchange programs between CNES and Roscosmos, working alongside cosmonauts and international crewmates on station operations linked to Mir EO expeditions. He later launched on STS-122 aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis supporting delivery and integration of the Columbus (ISS module) laboratory to the International Space Station. During STS-122 and associated expeditions he served as a flight engineer during Expedition 16, coordinating with commanders from NASA, specialists from JAXA and CSA, and payload managers from ESA. His missions involved docking operations with the Zvezda (ISS module), EVA support for Pirs (ISS module) interface tasks, and handovers with crews from Expedition 12 and Expedition 17.

Scientific experiments and ISS contributions

On Mir and the ISS Eyharts performed experiments in disciplines sponsored by agencies including ESA, CNES, NASA, JAXA, and CSA. His work encompassed life sciences projects connected to investigators at Institut Pasteur and biomedical teams from INSERM, materials science convective studies tied to European Space Research and Technology Centre protocols, and fluid physics research coordinated with ESA Directorate of Human Spaceflight and Robotic Exploration. He managed payloads related to microgravity combustion studies with teams at CNRS, crystallography experiments linked to Institut Laue–Langevin, and technology demonstrations involving European industry partners such as Air Liquide and Thales Alenia Space. Eyharts also contributed to station maintenance tasks coordinating with Mission Control Center (TsUP) in Moscow and NASA Mission Control Center in Houston.

Awards and honors

Eyharts has received honors from French and international institutions, including decorations conferred by the Légion d'honneur system and recognition from aerospace bodies like CNES and ESA management. He holds distinctions tied to service in the French Air Force and awards from multinational organizations such as NATO committees and aviation fraternities including the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. International acknowledgments include medals and commendations presented during ceremonies involving representatives from NASA, Roscosmos, and European defense ministries.

Category:French astronauts Category:European Space Agency astronauts Category:1957 births Category:Living people