Astronaut Sophie Adenot is scheduled to perform a spacewalk on Tuesday, Aug. 18, to replace an external antenna on the International Space Station [1].
The mission marks a historic milestone for France, as Adenot is set to become the first Frenchwoman to conduct an extravehicular activity (EVA) [2].
Adenot, 44 [1], will be joined by U.S. astronaut Anil Menon for the operation [1]. The pair is expected to spend six hours and 30 minutes outside the station [1]. The primary objective of the mission is to replace a malfunctioning external antenna that is critical for station operations [1].
French President Emmanuel Macron described the event as "une fierté française" — a French pride [1]. The mission follows months of preparation for the astronaut, who previously expressed her excitement about the upcoming task.
"J'ai une super nouvelle : le 18 août, ce sera à mon tour de sortir de la Station," Adenot said [2].
While some early reports suggested Adenot was the first French person in space, records indicate that other French astronauts have visited space previously [2]. This specific mission distinguishes her as the first woman from France to exit the spacecraft into the vacuum of space [2].
“Sophie Adenot is set to become the first Frenchwoman to conduct an extravehicular activity.”
This mission represents a significant expansion of France's role in international space cooperation. By achieving the first French female EVA, the European Space Agency and France demonstrate a shift toward gender inclusivity in high-risk orbital operations, while maintaining the technical utility of the ISS through critical hardware maintenance.
