Sophie Adenot Becomes First French Woman to Spacewalk

Sophie Adenot has made history as the first French woman to perform a spacewalk, stepping outside the International Space Station (ISS) on 18 August 2026 alongside NASA astronaut Anil Menon. The milestone marks a significant achievement for France and adds to the growing participation of women in space exploration.

Key Highlights

• Sophie Adenot becomes the first French woman to perform a spacewalk
• She completes a 6-hour-23-minute EVA with NASA astronaut Anil Menon
• The astronauts remove a failed ISS communications antenna during the mission

The spacewalk, designated US EVA-97, lasted 6 hours and 23 minutes and became the 282nd spacewalk supporting ISS assembly and maintenance. Sophie and Anil were tasked with removing the failed Space-to-Ground Antenna 2 (SGANT-2), which had stopped tracking NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRS) satellites in November 2025.

The astronauts successfully removed and secured the faulty antenna. However, they could not install its replacement after encountering stuck bolts and connectors. NASA will therefore schedule a future spacewalk to complete the replacement.

The antenna plays an important role in the ISS’s communications infrastructure, supporting high-speed data transmission between the station and mission control in Houston. During the operation, other crew members remained inside the ISS to monitor the astronauts and operate the station’s robotic arm.

Sophie’s achievement also makes her the second European woman to conduct a spacewalk, following Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, who completed an EVA in 2022. She follows fellow French astronaut Thomas Pesquet, who conducted six spacewalks during two missions to the ISS.

The 44-year-old aerospace engineer and former helicopter test pilot joined the European Astronaut Corps in 2022. She travelled to the ISS in February 2026 aboard SpaceX Crew-12, becoming only the second Frenchwoman to travel into space after Claudie Haigneré.

Sophie has previously spoken about the extensive preparation required for an extravehicular activity (EVA). Astronauts train extensively through underwater simulations and repeated rehearsals because working outside the ISS requires precise movements, strict procedures and constant attention to safety.

Her spacewalk also carries a personal connection to France’s space history. Sophie has cited Claudie Haigneré, France’s first woman in space, as an early inspiration. She watched Haigneré travel to the Mir space station when she was a teenager.

During the EVA, Sophie experienced several sunrises and sunsets while orbiting hundreds of kilometres above Earth. The demanding mission highlighted both the technical complexity and physical challenges of spacewalking, as astronauts work in heavy spacesuits in the vacuum of space.

The achievement has received recognition in France, with President Emmanuel Macron praising Sophie and highlighting her potential to inspire a new generation of girls interested in science, engineering and space careers.

Sophie’s milestone therefore extends beyond a single mission, strengthening France’s presence in human spaceflight while underscoring the increasing role of women in space exploration.