The European Space Agency (ESA) unveiled its new class of career astronauts on Wednesday, selecting France’s Sophie Adenot and four other candidates from a list of more than 22,500 applicants. A helicopter pilot in the French army, Adenot becomes France’s second woman astronaut after Claudie Haigneré. She spoke to FRANCE 24 about reaching this historic milestone, what inspired her to become an astronaut and why she feels space exploration is important.