Claudie Haigneré

What a multi-talent... French Claudie Haigneré was successively a rheumatologist, neuroscientist, astronaut, secretary of state and minister. Born Claudie André-Deshays, she married Jean-Pierre Haigneré, who was also an astronaut.

Claudie was the first Frenchwoman to go to space. She flew space missions to the Russian space station Mir (1996) and to the International Space Station ISS (2001). In space, she conducted dozens of experiments, including on the human body in weightless conditions.

After her space missions, Claudie remained involved in space and science. She was founder of the science museum Palais de la Découverte (Palace of Discoveries) in Paris. And she is still thinking about the space missions of the future.

Did you know this about Claudie?

• Claudie loved studying. She studied medicine, specialising in rheumatology. She then went on to earn a PhD in neuroscience.

• In October 1992, she trained as a backup for the French-Russian space mission Altair. She was then backup for her future husband: Jean-Pierre.

• In her spare time, she enjoys painting and sculpting, reading, gymnastics and golf.

• In 1985, ten thousand French people applied to become astronauts. Seven people were selected, including Claudie. She was the only woman.

• Claudie did not just float around in space. She also did so aboard a plane for training and scientific experiments.

• Streets have been named after her in five different French villages.