French astronaut Sophie Adenot is preparing for her second spacewalk outside the International Space Station, one week after her first excursion into the void. The upcoming mission is meant to finish the work that remained incomplete during her initial outing, when she and her crewmate began replacing a defective antenna on the station's exterior.
The spacewalk, scheduled for Tuesday, August 25, 2026, follows Adenot's first extravehicular activity on August 18, during which she and her partner started the delicate operation. That first sortie ended with the task unfinished, leaving the replacement of the faulty antenna to be completed during this second exit. The antenna in question is part of the station's communication infrastructure, and its malfunction had been flagged as a priority for repair.
Adenot, a French astronaut with the European Space Agency, has been stationed aboard the ISS as part of a long-duration mission. Her first spacewalk marked a significant milestone in her career, and the second outing is now being closely watched by space agencies and the public alike. The operation requires precise coordination with the crew inside the station and with mission control on the ground, as astronauts work in the harsh conditions of low Earth orbit.
The decision to send Adenot back out so soon after her first spacewalk reflects the importance of completing the antenna replacement. Spacewalks are physically demanding and carry inherent risks, but the station's schedule and the need to restore full communication capabilities have driven the quick turnaround. The faulty antenna is believed to affect data relay between the ISS and ground stations, though the station's primary systems remain operational.
During her first spacewalk, Adenot and her colleague managed to partially complete the replacement, but the task proved more complex than anticipated. The second outing is expected to focus on the remaining steps, including securing the new antenna and verifying its connections. The crew has rehearsed the procedure extensively, and the spacewalk is planned to last several hours.
The mission has drawn particular attention in France, where Adenot is seen as a prominent figure in the country's space program. Her selection for the ISS mission and her successful first spacewalk have been widely covered in French media, and the second outing is expected to generate similar interest. The European Space Agency has highlighted Adenot's performance as an example of the growing role of European astronauts in ISS operations.
The ISS has been continuously inhabited for over two decades, and maintenance tasks like this one are a routine but critical part of keeping the orbital laboratory functional. Spacewalks are conducted regularly to repair equipment, install new hardware, and perform upgrades. Each outing requires careful planning, and astronauts train for years to master the skills needed to work outside the station.
Adenot's second spacewalk is scheduled to begin in the morning hours, with live coverage provided by space agencies. The exact duration will depend on the complexity of the tasks and the condition of the astronauts, but the crew is prepared for a full workday outside the station. Upon completion, Adenot will have logged her second spacewalk, further solidifying her standing as one of Europe's most experienced active astronauts.
