Sophie Adenot Reaches the International Space Station, ​Marking a Milestone for France

On Saturday, February⁤ 14th, astronaut Sophie‍ Adenot successfully joined the International Space Station (ISS) after ‌a⁣ 34-hour journey. This marks‌ a significant moment as the first French national to travel to space in 25 years. Adenot transmitted her first⁣ words from​ the ISS, signaling the start of a roughly nine-month ‌mission.

A Quarter-Century Wait

It had ‍been 25 years since a French citizen last ventured into space. ⁢That wait ended on February 14th with sophie Adenot’s arrival at the ISS, alongside two American and one Russian cosmonaut for the Crew-12 mission as reported by BFM TV. Following Claudie Haigneré, Adenot becomes the second ⁢French woman to perform a ​space flight, joining the ranks⁢ of ten French⁤ astronauts who have​ journeyed into space.

Journey to the ISS

The ​SpaceX rocket carrying Sophie Adenot launched from Cape Canaveral,Florida,and ⁤successfully docked with the ISS after 34 hours of flight. The ‌ISS, orbiting 400 kilometers ​above Earth, welcomed the crew at 21:15, as‌ broadcast live⁤ by NASA. Adenot shared her excitement, stating, “I am proud⁣ to carry France and Europe on this amazing adventure that transcends borders.” She added, “Count on me to share all the steps with you and make the stars shine in the eyes of the French.”

Inspired by a Legacy

The 43-year-old astronaut is the 84th woman overall to reach orbit. In an interview with France 2, Adenot revealed that she was deeply ‌inspired by Claudie Haigneré’s mission in 1996. “I was 14 years old when Claudie ⁤Haigneré made her first trip into space. For me, it was ‌clearly a ⁤trigger,” she explained.

Warm Welcome Aboard

Upon arrival at ⁢the ISS,⁢ Adenot and her ⁢American and Russian counterparts were ‌greeted with a welcome ceremony organized by the existing crew members: Christopher Williams, Sergueï Koud-Svertchkov, and Sergueï Mikaïev.

Published February 15,2026,by Gabriel Gadré,6Medias