The first French astronaut in space, Jean-Loup Chrétien has made three space flights, two with Russia and one with NASA on board the space shuttle Atlantis. Assistant Director of NASA ISS expeditions and Assistant Technical Director at the Johnson Space Centre, Jean-Loup Chrétien established the first link between the SeaOrbiter project and space agencies, NASA in particular.

“As a spacecraft on its way to the unknown, leaving for outer space whose mysteries call us with so much power, SeaOrbiter will take a journey to another unknown, the immensity of the sea and all its secrets. The sea is our victim even though it is our cradle. Quietness, method and respect for nature and ocean will be the conditions of the SeaOrbiter mission.”