French astronaut Sophie Adenot is scheduled to begin her third spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. Paris time, according to franceinfo. This outing marks the first time Adenot will serve as the lead astronaut for the mission, a role that places her in command of the spacewalk.
The spacewalk will be conducted with an all-female crew, as reported by Yahoo Actualités. Adenot, who is part of the European Space Agency's astronaut corps, has previously completed two spacewalks during her current mission aboard the ISS. The exact tasks for this third excursion have not been detailed in the available reporting, but franceinfo notes that the operation is being followed live as it unfolds.
According to Le Figaro, Adenot's promotion to lead astronaut for this spacewalk represents a significant step in her career, as it places her in charge of coordinating the crew's activities outside the station. Le Point describes this outing as the third act of her "space marathon," underscoring the demanding schedule she has maintained while in orbit.
The decision to assign Adenot as the lead for an all-female spacewalk crew has drawn attention from multiple French outlets, including BFM, which highlighted the novelty of the arrangement. While the specific objectives of the spacewalk remain unclear from the source material, the mission is expected to involve routine maintenance or upgrades to the ISS, consistent with typical spacewalk activities.
Observers will be watching to see how Adenot handles her new leadership role during the excursion, which is expected to last several hours. The live coverage from franceinfo will provide updates on the progress of the spacewalk as it happens.
