European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot is set to make history Tuesday, Aug. 18, when she exits the International Space Station for her first spacewalk. Adenot will become the first French woman to participate in an extravehicular activity, marking a significant milestone for France and European human spaceflight.
Adenot will conduct the spacewalk alongside NASA astronaut Anil Menon. The two astronauts are scheduled to leave the station at approximately 8:35 a.m. EDT for an excursion expected to last about 6.5 hours. NASA’s live coverage is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. EDT.
Astronauts Will Replace Critical ISS Antenna
During the spacewalk, Adenot and Menon will work on an important communications component outside the orbiting laboratory.
The astronauts will “replace a space-to-ground antenna on the orbital complex,” NASA officials wrote in a preview of the mission.
“The antenna is a critical communications link NASA uses to transmit data, enabling high-speed communications between the Mission Control Center in Houston and the space station,” officials added.
The equipment supports the flow of information between astronauts aboard the ISS and flight controllers at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Reliable communications are essential for scientific research, routine station operations and emergency coordination.
Adenot and Menon are expected to spend most of their time outside the station completing the replacement procedure and related preparation work. Spacewalks require astronauts to operate in pressurized suits while using safety tethers and specialized tools in the vacuum of space.
Mission Delayed After Spacesuit Sensor Reading
Tuesday’s excursion will be Menon’s second spacewalk. He completed his first EVA with NASA astronaut Jessica Meir on Aug. 6.
During that operation, a carbon dioxide sensor in Menon’s spacesuit produced “an unexpected data reading,” according to an Aug. 7 NASA update. The sensor returned to normal after Menon removed the suit, but mission teams conducted additional reviews to ensure the equipment did not present a safety concern.
NASA subsequently postponed Menon’s second spacewalk from its original Aug. 13 date to Aug. 18. The delay gave engineers additional time to evaluate the sensor information and confirm that the spacesuit was ready for another EVA.
Menon will serve as “crewmember 1” during the operation, while Adenot will be designated “crewmember 2.”
Spacewalk Adds to International Space Station History
The excursion will be the 282nd spacewalk conducted in support of the International Space Station. Since construction of the ISS began, astronauts and cosmonauts have performed EVAs to assemble the complex, install equipment, conduct repairs and upgrade its scientific and communications systems.
Menon arrived in orbit aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft on July 14. Adenot reached the space station in February as a member of SpaceX’s Crew-12 mission.
Her first spacewalk adds another achievement to France’s history in human spaceflight. Adenot will become the first French woman to conduct an EVA, although she is not the first French astronaut to work outside a spacecraft.
French Astronauts’ Spacewalking Legacy
Jean-Loup Chrétien became the first French person to perform a spacewalk in 1988. He conducted the historic EVA outside Mir, the Soviet Union’s former space station.
French astronauts Philippe Perrin and Thomas Pesquet later completed spacewalks outside the ISS. Pesquet also became the first French astronaut to command an International Space Station mission when he assumed leadership of the orbiting laboratory in October 2021.
Adenot’s spacewalk continues that legacy while expanding women’s representation in French and European space exploration. If completed as planned, the mission will combine a historic national achievement with essential maintenance designed to preserve communications between the ISS and Mission Control in Houston.
Chris Skeldon is a contributor to Brytfmonline.com, covering a wide range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle. He focuses on delivering clear, accurate, and reader-friendly reporting that helps audiences stay informed about current events and emerging developments. With an emphasis on useful information and balanced storytelling, Chris aims to provide timely coverage of issues and stories that matter most to readers.