Sophie Adenot Makes Historic First Spacewalk for France

French astronaut Sophie Adenot is set to embark on her inaugural spacewalk on August 18, commencing at 14:35. The European Space Agency (ESA) will provide a live broadcast starting at 13:00.

This event marks a significant milestone, not only for Adenot, who at 44 years old will experience the thrill of being an "extravehicular pedestrian"—a term used for astronauts who venture into the vacuum of space—but also for France. This is the first time a French citizen will conduct an extravehicular activity (EVA), a task that involves stepping outside the International Space Station (ISS). During this mission, Adenot will work alongside American astronaut Anil Menon to replace a communication antenna linking the ISS to Earth. The entire operation is expected to last approximately 6 hours and 30 minutes.

EVAs are known to be physically demanding. Astronauts wear pressurized suits that restrict movement, and the internal temperature can be quite high. Additionally, visibility is limited. To prepare for this challenging task, Adenot has undergone over 150 hours of training in water at both the ESA's European Astronaut Centre in Cologne and NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

During the spacewalk, Menon will don a suit marked with red stripes, while Adenot will wear a suit without any stripes. They will be supported by Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, who will operate the Canadarm2 robotic arm to assist in their tasks.

Sophie Adenot has often shared that her aspiration to become an astronaut was inspired by Claudie Haigneré, the first French woman in space, who flew in 1996. Coincidentally, Haigneré's historic flight took place nearly 30 years ago, on August 17.