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🇫🇷 France /Culture & Society

First Spacewalk for French Astronaut Sophie Adenot Outside ISS

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • French astronaut Sophie Adenot completed her first spacewalk outside the International Space Station on Tuesday.
  • She and American astronaut Anil Menon worked to replace a communication antenna, but technical issues delayed the mission's completion.
  • Adenot becomes the first French woman and second European woman to perform an extravehicular activity.

Astronaut Sophie Adenot made history on Tuesday, completing her first spacewalk outside the International Space Station. She is now the first French woman and the second European woman to achieve this milestone. Adenot joins a select group of only about 350 humans who have experienced the vacuum of space since 1965.

Adenot, who has been aboard the ISS since February 14, 2026, was joined by her American colleague Anil Menon for the mission. Their objective was to replace a faulty communication antenna. However, the task encountered technical difficulties, including a stubborn power tool and a stubborn electrical cable. These issues led NASA to postpone the completion of the repair.

The faulty antenna was secured to the station with cables, awaiting its storage and the installation of the replacement. This will now occur during a future mission. Despite the incomplete repair, Adenot's spacewalk marks a significant achievement in her career and for French space exploration.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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