European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot is scheduled to perform her first spacewalk on August 18, 2025, according to announcements from NASA and European outlets. Adenot will step outside the International Space Station to replace a vital high-bandwidth antenna used for communications and data transmission between the orbiting laboratory and ground control centers.
Mission Details and Crew Assignments
According to NASA, Sophie Adenot will be joined during the extravehicular activity by American astronaut Anil Menon. The pair will work outside the station to repair and upgrade the space station’s critical transmission hardware. Menon previously trained and worked on high-bandwidth communication infrastructure systems supporting station operations.
Preparation for the spacewalk began in earnest inside the space station. According to mission updates, Menon and Adenot spent time working together inside the Quest airlock, organizing and preparing the specialized tools required for the exterior repairs.
Historical Significance for European Spaceflight
With this upcoming excursion, Adenot will achieve another major milestone by becoming the first French woman to execute a spacewalk.
Furthermore, Adenot will become the second European woman in history to perform an extravehicular activity. The only prior European woman to complete a spacewalk was Italy’s Samantha Cristoforetti, who accomplished the feat in 2022.
Expedition 75 Timeline and Future Operations
The spacewalk falls under the operational umbrella of Expedition 75. Mission planners have scheduled potential follow-up exterior work. According to mission schedules reported by space agencies, Adenot could head back outside the station for a second spacewalk on August 25 to continue maintenance tasks.
Related reading