Paris (France) (AFP) – Sophie Adenot sent “full of good vibes” to schoolchildren for the start of the school year on Wednesday, answering questions from journalists from the International Space Station (ISS) the day after her third spacewalk.

Published on: 02/09/2026 - 18:17

"When we come back, it's not always fun. We know that there will be lots of math equations or subjects that we don't necessarily like. What I would like to say to all young people is that one day it will lead to something that will really make you happy and that will allow you to have fun in your profession or in life," declared the 44-year-old astronaut, mother of a young boy.

Hair floating in the air and all smiles, the Frenchwoman admitted to being "a little bit tired" after three extravehicular outings (EVA) carried out in two weeks, confiding that the simple act of holding a pen to take notes was "painful".

But these EVAs “will remain the highlight” of its first mission aboard the ISS. “It’s very impressive to see the Earth beneath our feet,” she said, comparing leaving the station to the sensation of “opening the door of a car and finding yourself with your feet on the edge of a cliff.”

The first French woman to venture into the void of space, Sophie Adenot carried out three outings on August 18 and 25 and September 1. The first two in pairs with the American Anil Menon to replace a defective antenna and the third with Jessica Meir during which they carried out several maintenance tasks in parallel.

Relief postponed indefinitely

Experiences “very, very different from each other,” she detailed. “The first is really difficult because it’s this big leap into the unknown, while after, the second and third, you progress in self-confidence, even if it’s in a very hostile environment.”

Sophie Adenot, who flew to the ISS on February 13, will become on Thursday the European astronaut who carried out the longest mission in space, with 202 days spent on board the station. The record was until now held by the Italian Luca Parmitano.

“We are reaching a point in the mission where most of the objectives have been accomplished. There are still a few weeks left and we will finish them all and I even think we will go beyond,” estimated the astronaut, whose return to Earth is approaching.

NASA had initially scheduled a rotation in mid-September, but the flight of the crew who were to take over was postponed due to a technical problem on the spacecraft and no new date has yet been announced.

Asked if she was already considering a second mission to the ISS, Sophie Adenot said she was "aware that there is a time for recovery" and that other European astronauts must be able to take over.

“In any case, I will be ready for anything. And if they tell me to ‘go again’, well, I will leave with great pleasure!”, she said.

© 2026 AFP

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