As Rice University prepares to celebrate the Class of 2025 at commencement May 9-10, Rice News is spotlighting a series of standout seniors.
Arthus Morisson de la Bassetiere, a senior mechanical engineering major and men’s tennis player from Reims, France, has his sights set far beyond the court — he wants to be one of the first French people to walk on the moon.
His dream of becoming an astronaut gained momentum at Rice, where he found the support and mentorship he had been looking for.
“At my previous institution, if I told a professor I wanted to be an astronaut, they would’ve laughed,” de la Bassetiere said. “But here, the first professor I spoke to took me seriously and immediately gave me real guidance. That moment made me realize that Rice is the place to be.”
In addition to pursuing his lofty goals in outer space, de la Bassetiere has been a key player for the Owls, helping lead the men’s tennis team to its first American Athletic Conference championship. His achievements on and off the court earned him recognition as a 2025 Rice Scholar-Athlete.
“I’ve spent a lot of time on the courts with my teammates and have many great stories here,” he said.