Sophie Adenot Becomes First French Woman to Walk in Space

French astronaut Sophie Adenot became the first French woman to conduct a spacewalk on Tuesday, stepping outside the International Space Station with American astronaut Anil Menon. The operation lasted about six and a half hours and focused on replacing an antenna used for high-speed communications and data transfers between the orbiting laboratory and mission control in Houston.

The 44-year-old engineer and former test pilot is only the second European woman to perform a spacewalk, after Italy’s Samantha Cristoforetti in 2022. Adenot had spent several days preparing aboard the station, which orbits about 400 kilometres above Earth. In February, she also became the second French woman to travel to space, following Claudie Haigneré.

The work was supported from inside by flight engineer Jack Hathaway and station commander Jessica Meir, who monitored the spacewalkers and operated a robotic arm. Adenot had previously emphasised that activity outside the station is a team effort. Her milestone adds a new French first to a field in which European women remain rare.