François Baumes photographs the failed European spaceflight: ExoMars

For more than 20 years, the European Space Agency has launched the ExoMars mission, which aims to drill the ground of the planet Mars to find fossilized life forms. With his documentary “ExoMars, Mission Impossible”, François Baumes relives this crazy adventure that is above all a failure since the rover was launched on Mars and ended up in a crash.

Photographing men and women at work

When he begins to take an interest in the Exomars, François Baumes is amazed above all by the passion that animates those invested in the mission. He loves science documentaries, and likes to highlight their own experience and go beyond rigorous reporting.

I wanted to break through the scientific envelope. Francois Boms

Over the years, François Baumes has been able to establish a relationship of trust with the actors and actresses on mission, allowing him to tell this disturbing story through their eyes.

Picture failure

Present alongside the stakeholders of the expedition since 2014, François Baumes, a stakeholder in this adventure, has witnessed the many failures they have suffered.

ExoMars is somewhat similar The man who killed Don Quixote by Terry Gilliam. We start with a crazy idea and realize that there are a lot of obstacles. » Francois Boms

After his initial intention to portray those who bring the mission to life, these failures are told from their point of view.

“ I put my cameras on, listened to them and followed them for many years, until I had deep feelings about the successes and failures of this space mission. » Francois Boms

beyond science

“ Exomars, Mission Impossible » Therefore, it is a science documentary of a unique kind, because it presents the scientific adventure as a story that people experience, imagine and tell.

“ I may have overdone my work a bit, but it allowed me to get over the science with them. » Francois Boms