Michel Rocard has marked the political world. The former Prime Minister died in July 2016 of cancer at the Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital. The politician has left a big void, especially in the hearts of his loved ones. Her son Francis Rocard was devastated by the death of his father. During his funeral, he even read a very moving text written by his father on his last wishes. "I will go to sleep in Corsica in a cemetery of Monticello, on the side of the cliff where there remained a plot too small for a grave, but sufficient for two urns". 63 years old, Francis Rocard is a recognized astrophysicist. He has been responsible for the solar system exploration program at the National Center for Space Studies since 1989. Over the years, he has continued to climb.
The coordinator of large space missions
Passionate, he coordinates various missions since 1998. Michel Rocard's son for example contributed to the implementation of the Mars exploration program. In the columns of International mail, he had confided on this subject: "There will be three main families of missions to Mars: the simplest, which could be done in less than ten years: men will fly over Mars without stopping and return to Earth. The second will consist of putting men in Martian orbit it will take about twenty years. Then, only, between now and the 2050s, we can envisage placing man on the surface of Mars which will be the most complex mission which will require the development of heavy vehicles like that of 30 tonnes allowing the landing of a crew on the planet. "
In parallel, he also managed the study mission of a comet called Rosetta. A ten-year odyssey for this probe, which weighs three tonnes and costs a billion euros. On the private side, he is also very fulfilled. He is married to Claudie Rocard-Laperrousaz, who is a photographer. Together they have three children, Clément, Louise and Claire.
Read also : Photos – Sylvie Rocard: 5 things to know about Michel Rocard's wife