Sophie Adenot Becomes First Woman From France to Complete a Spacewalk

European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot has made history by becoming the first French woman, and the second European woman overall, to complete a spacewalk. She carried out the walk, designated U.S. Spacewalk 97, alongside NASA astronaut Anil Menon on August 18, 2026, spending 6 hours and 23 minutes outside the International Space Station.

About Sophie Adenot

1. Born on July 5, 1982, in Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire, France, Sophie Adenot built an impressive career even before joining space missions. 
2. She graduated as an aeronautical engineer from ISAE-SUPAERO in 2003 and later earned a master's degree from MIT in 2004.
3. She went on to serve as a colonel in the French Air and Space Force, becoming its first female helicopter test pilot in 2018, and accumulated thousands of flight hours across various aircraft types. 
4. Her space career began when she was selected as an ESA astronaut candidate in November 2022, chosen from a pool of over 22,500 applicants.
5. After completing rigorous training and certification by April 2024, she launched to the ISS on her debut mission, named εpsilon, on February 13, 2026.

International Space Station Communication Systems

The spacewalk's primary objective was to replace a failed Space-to-Ground Antenna (SGANT) located on the ISS's Z1 truss. This antenna plays a key role in maintaining high-speed data communication between the space station and Mission Control in Houston. During the operation, the astronauts ran into difficulties with stuck bolts and tangled electrical cables, which delayed the installation of the replacement unit. As a result, Mission Control instructed the team to secure the faulty antenna with a long-duration tie-down instead of completing a full replacement during this spacewalk.

Sophie Adenot and Anil Menon conduct ISS spacewalk

1. While Adenot and Menon worked outside the station, NASA commander Jessica Meir and flight engineer Jack Hathaway supported the mission from inside the ISS. 
2. Their responsibilities included helping the spacewalkers into their suits and operating the Canadarm2 robotic arm to assist with the task. 
3. This spacewalk marked the 282nd in the ISS's long history of assembly, maintenance, and upgrade missions, adding another milestone to the station's ongoing operations.