Sophie Adeno became the first French woman to travel to space during a mission to the International Space Station on June 13, 2026 [1, 2].
The mission marks a significant milestone for France, resuming the nation's participation in human spaceflight after a 25-year gap [2].
Aboard a SpaceX crewed vehicle, Adeno traveled to the station accompanied by U.S. astronaut Anil Menon [1, 2]. The launch occurred at 5:15 a.m. local time, or 10:15 a.m. UTC [3], following a two-day delay caused by weather conditions [3].
During her time on the station, Adeno completed a mission lasting six hours [1]. Because the International Space Station orbits Earth approximately every 92 minutes [1], Adeno experienced four day periods and four night periods within that short window [1].
Adeno said, "Let us make our dreams big together" [2].
The collaboration between the French space agency and SpaceX highlights a shift toward utilizing private commercial vehicles for international astronaut transport. This mission integrates French scientific personnel back into the orbital environment, a goal that has been pursued for over two decades [2].
“Sophie Adeno became the first French woman to travel to space”
The return of French astronauts to space via SpaceX demonstrates the increasing reliance of national space agencies on private American aerospace firms to maintain orbital presence. By breaking a 25-year hiatus, France re-establishes its capability to conduct human-led research in microgravity, signaling a renewed strategic commitment to international space cooperation.
