Paris. French astronaut Sophie Adeno on Tuesday achieved the distinction of becoming the first French female astronaut to perform a spacewalk by exiting the International Space Station (ISS). American astronaut Anil Menon also went on the spacewalk with him.
During this mission, which lasted about six and a half hours, both the astronauts had to replace an important antenna outside the ISS. This antenna helps the space station maintain contact with Mission Control based in Houston, America.
“I’m out,” Adeno, 44, said after exiting the ISS, which is orbiting Earth at an altitude of about 400 kilometers. With this he added a new chapter in the space history of France.
With this achievement, Adeno also became the second European woman to perform a spacewalk. Before her, this feat was achieved by Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti in 2022.
This achievement of Adeno reflects the increasing participation of women in space science and their important contribution. His spacewalk is being considered an important achievement for France as well as for the whole of Europe.