Story perspectives

Sophie Adenot Returns After 235-Day ISS Mission

By Drooid · Oct 10, 2026, 11:59 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

French astronaut Sophie Adenot splashed down in the Pacific Ocean near California after a 235-day ISS mission.
The mission set the record for the longest European orbital stay at 235 days.
Adenot became the first French woman to conduct a spacewalk during the mission.
Two ESA physicians attended to her after landing because she appeared visibly weakened.
She started a three-week intensive rehabilitation program in Germany.

History

Historical Context

In 1996 Claudie Haigneré became the first French woman to fly to Mir and, in 2001, the first European woman to visit the International Space Station, establishing Europe’s crewed foothold. Building on that legacy, astronaut Sophie Adenot completed a 235-day ISS mission and a historic spacewalk in 2024, extending European endurance and prompting longer multinational crew rotations.

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Story summary

French astronaut Sophie Adenot splashed down in the Pacific Ocean near California after a 235-day ISS mission.
The mission set the record for the longest European orbital stay at 235 days.
Adenot became the first French woman to conduct a spacewalk during the mission.
Two ESA physicians attended to her after landing because she appeared visibly weakened.
She started a three-week intensive rehabilitation program in Germany.

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