LAPEROUSE chooses this frigate (eg Ostrich) at Rochefort for 450 tons and had to arm BREST. He embarked many live animals, food, trees and shrubs, portable greenhouses, the glass exchange with the natives, and a large amount of equipment (axes, adzes, knives ...). He appointed as head of his friend Fleuriot ASTROLABE of Langlais and his Knights of the Deputy MONTY. Most of the crew (110 men) from Brittany were among them astronomers, physicists, mineralogists, geographers, botanists and lived on board in the "House of Scientists". 1 AUGUST 1785, ASTROLABE COMPASS and raised anchor in Brest for a long 4 years around the world.

The dark ASTROLABE 1788 to Vanikoro, dashed on the reefs storm one night a short distance from the COMPASS.