Sophie Adenot set to carry out historic spacewalk

Sophie Adenot, the French astronaut, will carry out her first spacewalk from the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. This spacewalk, which will last approximately six and a half hours, will take place 400 kilometers above Earth and at a speed of 28,000 km/h.

During this mission, Sophie Adenot will be accompanied by her American colleague Anil Menon. Together, they will perform repairs on the ISS communication system, including replacing an antenna dedicated to communications with Earth.

The operation has been meticulously prepared by the astronauts, highlighting the significance of this spacewalk, which marks a turning point in the French space program. Adenot will thus become the first French woman to walk in space, making this a significant moment for space missions.

Having been aboard the ISS since February 2026, Sophie Adenot has already acclimated to the conditions and challenges present in the space environment before undertaking this crucial mission.

The spacewalk will be broadcast live, allowing the public to follow this landmark event for France and its space program.

This maintenance operation, which will be conducted in a challenging and potentially dangerous environment, underscores the difficulties and importance of astronauts' work in managing space infrastructure.