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Watch European astronaut make history during spacewalk today
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European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot is poised to make history today (Aug. 18) as the first French woman to conduct a spacewalk. The milestone extravehicular activity (EVA) is scheduled to begin at approximately 8:35 a.m. EDT (1235 GMT) outside the International Space Station (ISS), with NASA astronaut Anil Menon joining her. Live coverage will start at 7 a.m. EDT (1100 GMT) on NASA TV and Space.com. The duo will step outside the orbital laboratory for a planned 6.5-hour excursion, a mission that marks a significant leap for European spaceflight and gender representation in the cosmos.
The primary objective of today's spacewalk is to replace a space-to-ground antenna on the ISS, a critical component that enables high-speed communications between Mission Control in Houston and the station. According to NASA officials, the antenna serves as a vital data link, facilitating the transmission of scientific data, telemetry, and operational commands. Without a functioning antenna, the station's ability to maintain real-time contact with ground teams would be severely compromised, making this maintenance task essential for ongoing operations.
Both astronauts are experienced flyers, though this EVA will be a first for Adenot. She arrived at the ISS in February aboard SpaceX's Crew-12 mission, joining Expedition 71 as a flight engineer. Menon, who launched to orbit on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft on July 14, will serve as crewmember 1, while Adenot acts as crewmember 2. This will be Menon's second spacewalk; his first, conducted alongside NASA astronaut Jessica Meir on Aug. 6, was cut short after a carbon dioxide sensor on his spacesuit produced an unexpected data reading. The sensor returned to normal once he removed the suit, but NASA delayed his next EVA from Aug. 13 to today to ensure no underlying issues remained.
While Adenot is the first French woman to perform a spacewalk, she is not the first French person to do so. That honor goes to Jean-Loup Chrétien, who walked outside the Soviet Union's Mir space station in 1988. Since then, other French astronauts, including Philippe Perrin and Thomas Pesquet, have conducted EVAs outside the ISS. Pesquet also made history by becoming the first French commander of the ISS in October 2021. Adenot's achievement thus builds on a legacy of French spacewalkers while breaking new ground for women in the field.
The impact of this spacewalk extends beyond the technical task. It highlights the increasing diversity of spaceflight crews and the growing role of European astronauts in ISS operations. ESA officials have expressed pride in Adenot's assignment, noting that it reflects the agency's commitment to equal opportunity and international collaboration. For young women and girls in France and across Europe, her presence on this EVA serves as an inspiring example of what can be achieved through dedication and training.
Reactions from the space community have been enthusiastic, with social media buzzing about the historic nature of the event. Adenot herself has previously described spacewalking as a dream and a culmination of years of rigorous preparation. The spacewalk also underscores the continued importance of the ISS as a platform for testing technologies and techniques that will be needed for future deep-space missions, including NASA's Artemis program and potential Mars expeditions.
Looking ahead, today's EVA will be the 282nd spacewalk in the history of the ISS, a testament to the station's longevity and adaptability. After completing the antenna replacement, Adenot and Menon will return to the station's interior, where they will join their crewmates. The data gathered from this operation will inform future maintenance strategies and help sustain ISS operations until at least 2030. For Adenot, this milestone is likely the first of many, as she may be selected for future lunar missions under ESA's astronaut corps. As Europe continues to expand its human spaceflight capabilities, moments like these pave the way for a new era of exploration.
