He had inspired Luc Besson and with his childhood friend, the brilliant Jean-Giraud alias Moebius, he was also behind The fifth Element. But the designer Jean-Claude Mézières, who has just died at 83, was also a source of inspiration for scientists and engineers dealing with interplanetary and even interstellar travel and exobiology.
Almost 10 years ago, on the occasion of the death of Raymond Douglas “Ray” Bradbury, at the age of 91, Futura explained that the famous science fiction writer had influenced many scientists responsible for the exploration of Mars. We even saw a video where engineers from the famous Jet Propulsion Laboratory controlling the martian rovers paid homage to Ray Bradbury during his lifetime for having inspired them.
Today, due to the death, which occurred on January 23, 2022, of Jean-Claude Mezieres, cartoonist and creator of the science fiction series Valerian and Laureline with one of his childhood friends, Pierre Christin, it’s an opportunity to remember that Cnes had already honored this series in a video here.
We would like the space-time travel technology of Valerian and Laureline one day become a reality and that the Galaxy and his exobiology live up to comics
Before inspiring Luc Besson, Valerian and Laureline is the go-to comic for science fiction fans. But the work of Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières is also a source of inspiration for research and space exploration, for engineers, scientists and astronauts. Testimonials. Interview with astronaut Jean-Francois Clervoy filmed at the Cité de l’Espace in Toulouse. © Cnes
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