The Tara Polar Station, a scientific observatory drifting on an ice floe at the North Pole, is unveiled during its naming ceremony in Lorient, ahead of its first mission to the largely unexplored Arctic Ocean in 2026. "while venturing into space is exciting and important, we must also continue learning about our own planet, because there is much that needs addressing here too," says French astronaut and the ship's godparent, Thomas Pesquet. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES [TO COMPLETE 43DC8KD_EN]