ISS to host first spacewalk by Frenchwoman
Sophie Adenot is set to become the first French female astronaut to venture outside the International Space Station for a spacewalk on Tuesday, accompanied by American astronaut Anil Menon.
French astronaut Sophie Adenot is scheduled to conduct the first spacewalk by a Frenchwoman on the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday, joined by American astronaut Anil Menon. The six-and-a-half hour spacewalk begins at 2:30pm French time, aiming to replace a critical space-to-ground antenna essential for high-speed communications and data transmission between the ISS and mission control in Houston.
Adenot, 44, will be the second European woman to perform a spacewalk, following the mission of Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti in 2022. The Frenchwoman has been preparing for this operation aboard the ISS, orbiting 400 kilometers above Earth. Adenot emphasized that a successful spacewalk commences well before the hatch opens, dedicating her focus to rehearsing, preparing, and maintaining concentration in recent days.
During the spacewalk, mission control in Houston will monitor the spacewalkers and operate a robotic arm from the ISS. Adenot, an engineer by training and former test pilot, became France's second astronaut in space in February, following Claudie Haignere. Thomas Pesquet was the last French individual to walk in space, completing six spacewalks across two missions aboard the ISS.
Written by urgent.news from The Local France's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
