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🇫🇷 France /Technology

French Astronaut Sophie Adenot to Command Third Spacewalk

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News From a news agency Ongoing story
  • French astronaut Sophie Adenot will undertake her third spacewalk on Tuesday, this time commanding the operation.
  • She will replace a 'retroreflector' device and perform other maintenance tasks outside the International Space Station (ISS).
  • The spacewalk will be an all-female mission, with American astronaut Jessica Meir accompanying Adenot.

French astronaut Sophie Adenot is set to embark on her third spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) next Tuesday, marking a significant milestone as she will be commanding the operation. This upcoming mission follows her historic achievement on August 18, when she became the first French woman to venture into the vacuum of space.

During the Extravehicular Activity (EVA), Adenot, designated as 'crew member 1', will work alongside American astronaut Jessica Meir, making it an entirely female spacewalk. Their primary task will be to replace a 'retroreflector' device, crucial for assisting spacecraft during rendezvous and docking maneuvers with the ISS. The spacewalk is scheduled to begin around 12:30 GMT and is expected to last approximately six and a half hours.

We managed to repair this antenna despite all the problems we had with the electrical connectors, with the screws... All the mechanical glitches you could imagine, we had them. Despite everything... the new antenna is installed. The teams have already started the first tests and for now, everything seems to be going well.

— Sophie AdenotAdenot describes the successful repair of a faulty antenna during a previous spacewalk.

Following the replacement of the retroreflector, the duo will tackle additional tasks, including the installation of new cables and the replacement of a high-definition camera. In her previous two spacewalks, Adenot collaborated with American astronaut Anil Menon. Together, they attempted to replace a faulty antenna that enables the ISS to communicate with the Houston control center. However, they encountered numerous technical difficulties and could not complete the task in a single outing as planned.

Reflecting on her recent missions, Adenot described her second spacewalk as a "great victory." Despite feeling "a bit sore" after the demanding EVA, she expressed pride in her "mission accomplished." She recounted the challenges faced with electrical connectors and screws, noting, "All the mechanical glitches you could imagine, we had them. Despite everything... the new antenna is installed." She also mentioned receiving support from Claudie Haigneré, the first French woman to complete an ISS mission and a personal inspiration.

I felt pressure before the second one due to the difficulties encountered.

— Sophie AdenotAdenot discusses the emotional and professional challenges of her spacewalks.
About this summary

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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