The International Space Station (ISS) is set to welcome a new resident today, , as French astronaut Sophie Adenot embarks on her first spaceflight. Adenot, a colonel in the French Air and Space Force, will launch aboard SpaceX’s Crew-12 mission, marking a significant milestone as the second French woman to travel to space.
The launch, scheduled for , will originate from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Adenot will be joined by NASA astronauts Jessica Meir (Mission Commander) and Jack Hathaway (Pilot), as well as Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. The crew will travel to the ISS in a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, propelled by a Falcon 9 rocket.
Adenot’s journey is the culmination of a distinguished career. She became France’s first female helicopter test pilot in 2018, a testament to her skill and dedication in aviation. Her selection as an ESA astronaut in 2022 solidified her path to space. Prior to her military career, Adenot earned degrees from both the French National Institute of Aeronautics and Space and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, demonstrating a strong foundation in engineering and aerospace principles.
The Crew-12 mission is planned as a long-duration stay aboard the ISS, lasting approximately nine months. This extended timeframe will allow Adenot and her crewmates to conduct a wide range of scientific experiments and contribute to ongoing research in microgravity. The mission represents the 12th crew rotation flight under NASA’s Commercial Crew Programme, highlighting the growing partnership between NASA and private space companies like SpaceX.
Adenot’s path to becoming an astronaut was inspired, in part, by Claudie Haigneré, the first French woman in space, whose 1996 mission to the Mir space station Adenot watched as a young girl. This early exposure ignited a lifelong dream, though she was initially discouraged from pursuing it. Her perseverance ultimately led her to apply to the European Space Agency’s astronaut selection programme, succeeding after a previous attempt in 2008.
The launch will be broadcast live on ESA’s website (https://watch.esa.int/) with commentary in both French and English, as well as on YouTube. Several public viewing events are planned in France, including a watch party at the Cité des sciences et de l’industrie in Paris, featuring ESA astronaut Raphaël Liégeois and at the Cité de l’Espace in Toulouse, with participation from astronaut instructor Laura André-Boyet and other experts from ESA and the French space agency CNES.
Adenot’s mission is not only a personal achievement but also a source of national pride for France. Her mother, Isabelle Adenot, is a prominent pharmacist who served as national president of the Ordre national des pharmaciens from 2009 to 2017. The launch has garnered significant attention, with a special event planned at the Grand Rex cinema in Paris, attended by astronauts.
The significance of Adenot’s flight extends beyond symbolic representation. Her expertise as a helicopter test pilot and engineer will be invaluable during the mission, contributing to the technical aspects of experiments and maintenance aboard the ISS. The nine-month duration of the mission will allow for in-depth research and data collection, furthering our understanding of the effects of long-term space travel on the human body and the potential for future space exploration.
As Adenot prepares for liftoff, she embodies a new generation of astronauts – highly skilled professionals with diverse backgrounds and a commitment to scientific advancement. Her journey serves as an inspiration, demonstrating that with dedication and perseverance, even the most ambitious dreams can be realized.
