At 400 kilometers above Earth, Sophie Adenot was part of a historic spacewalk, even though the mission faced unexpected challenges. As a French astronaut, her experience highlighted the complexities of extravehicular activity in space. Jean-François Clervoy, a European Space Agency astronaut and founder of Air Zero G, has pointed out that several barriers still need to be overcome in advancing space exploration. One of the main challenges is the time required for long-distance travel. For example, a journey to Mars would take at least six months, and current reliance on chemical propulsion systems limits travel speeds until more advanced technology is developed. Another major barrier is the cost of reaching space. The laws of physics require a massive amount of energy to achieve Earth's orbital speed, which is 28,000 kilometers per hour. Although reusable launch systems and optimized operations can help reduce costs, the energy needed to escape Earth's gravity remains high. Clervoy suggests that progress in fundamental physics research is crucial, as our current understanding is incomplete, and future discoveries may lead to breakthroughs. He also notes that in the very long term, humanity may need to live elsewhere, as Earth will eventually become uninhabitable. The Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon, has generated renewed interest in lunar exploration. However, Clervoy points out that it is more challenging than the Apollo missions due to differences in available resources and the complexity of current objectives. During the Apollo era, NASA had a significant share of the American federal budget, which is not the case today. Artemis plans for longer missions in more complex environments with a broader range of international partners, and progress may be slow. However, private companies could help reduce financial burdens by taking on some of the fixed costs. Clervoy highlights the transformative role of the private sector in the "New Space" era, comparing it to the technological boom of the early 2000s with the rise of the Internet. While many entrepreneurs are investing in space ventures, commercial, tourist, or hotel missions in low Earth orbit will remain niche markets. Even with reduced costs, an orbital seat will remain extremely expensive, and Clervoy does not foresee affordable space travel, such as a 200-euro ticket, in the next few decades. Clervoy also notes the growing interest in space militarization, particularly from Russia and China, which have strategic interests in areas such as navigation, communications, observation, and intelligence. While space conflicts may not be imminent, the military's interest in this domain is understandable. Looking ahead, Clervoy envisions human presence on Mars within 50 years, with possible team rotations every two or three years. On the Moon, human presence could be more frequent, perhaps almost continuous. In Earth orbit, a small private market may develop, but access to space will remain costly, and the role of astronauts may evolve into specialized positions such as maintenance, operations, communications, resource management, and scientific research.