French astronaut Sophie Adenot has become the first Frenchwoman to complete a spacewalk, according to the European Space Agency. The milestone took place on the International Space Station (ISS), with Adenot performing the extravehicular activity as part of ongoing orbital operations.
The European Space Agency confirmed the spacewalk’s completion in a statement, marking a significant achievement for both Adenot and France’s presence in human spaceflight. While the agency did not specify the exact duration or tasks of the excursion, the event adds to a growing list of recent ISS spacewalk activity reported by multiple outlets.
According to NewVision.co.ug, the ISS hosted the first spacewalk by a Frenchwoman, underscoring the historic nature of the event. The accomplishment aligns with broader ISS operations, as NASA reports that Expedition 75 has been cleaning up after spacewalks while continuing microgravity research aboard the station.
The timing of Adenot’s spacewalk coincides with other notable extravehicular activities. The Times of India reported that Indian-origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon took his second spacewalk, while The Register noted that ISS spacewalkers discovered there is no such thing as a quick antenna job, suggesting some tasks proved more complex than anticipated.
Adenot, who was selected as an ESA astronaut in 2022, has been training for such missions since joining the agency’s corps. Her first spacewalk marks a personal milestone and a point of pride for France, which has seen relatively few of its nationals perform extravehicular activities compared to American and Russian astronauts.
As the ISS continues its research and maintenance schedule, attention will turn to upcoming spacewalks and whether Adenot will take on additional excursions during her current mission. The success of her first outing sets a strong foundation for future assignments.
