ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot will perform her first spacewalk today, Aug. 18, 2026, alongside NASA astronaut Anil Menon [2].
The mission marks a historic milestone for French space exploration as Adenot becomes the first French woman to conduct an extravehicular activity [3].
The pair are tasked with executing U.S. Spacewalk 97 [1]. Their primary objective is to replace a Space-to-Ground antenna on the exterior of the International Space Station (ISS) [1]. This antenna serves as a critical communications system, providing high-speed data and voice links between the orbital laboratory and Mission Control in Houston [1].
Coverage of the event began at 13:00 CEST, with the actual spacewalk scheduled to commence at approximately 14:35 CEST [1]. The operation requires precise coordination to ensure the replacement of the hardware without disrupting other station systems.
Adenot and Menon will exit the station to perform the hardware swap, a process that involves navigating the station's exterior while tethered to the hull [1]. The replacement of the antenna is essential for maintaining the robust communication flow required for daily operations and scientific research on the ISS [1].
This mission follows a rigorous training period for Adenot to prepare for the physical and technical demands of working in a vacuum. The collaboration between the European Space Agency and NASA underscores the continued international partnership required to maintain the aging infrastructure of the ISS [1], [3].
“Sophie Adenot will become the first French woman to perform a spacewalk.”
This mission highlights both the ongoing maintenance requirements of the International Space Station and the expanding diversity of the astronaut corps. Replacing the Space-to-Ground antenna is a critical infrastructure update to prevent communication failures. Simultaneously, Adenot's participation represents a shift in the demographics of space exploration, breaking a national gender barrier for France in orbital operations.
