France's Second Woman in Space Prepares for Launch After 30-Year Wait

Sophie Adenot, a French Air and Space Force colonel, will become the second French woman in space in over three decades.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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French astronaut Sophie Adenot is set to fly to the International Space Station on Friday, February 13, 2026. The 43-year-old will become only the second Frenchwoman in space in more than 30 years, following Claudie Haigner's historic missions in the 1990s and early 2000s. Adenot will launch aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on a Falcon 9 rocket, joining NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev.

Why it matters

Adenot's mission is seen as an important milestone for Europe's space program, as she will be conducting a variety of experiments during her six-to-eight-month stay on the International Space Station. These experiments will focus on physiology, technology testing for future Moon and Mars missions, and educational outreach.

The details

Selected as an ESA astronaut in November 2022 from a pool of 22,500 applicants, Adenot became the first member of her class to receive a flight assignment. Before joining ESA, she became France's first female helicopter test pilot in 2018, accumulating over 3,000 flight hours on 22 different types of helicopter. Adenot earned an engineering degree from ISAE-SUPAERO in Toulouse, France, specializing in spacecraft and aircraft flight dynamics, and also holds a master's degree in human factors engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

  • Adenot will launch on Friday, February 13, 2026, at around 11:00 CET.
  • Adenot will spend six to eight months on the International Space Station.

The players

Sophie Adenot

A 43-year-old French astronaut and colonel in the French Air and Space Force, who will become the second French woman in space in over 30 years.

Claudie Haigner

The first French woman in space, who flew to the Russian space station Mir in 1996 and the International Space Station in 2001.

Jessica Meir

A NASA astronaut who will be the mission commander for Adenot's flight to the International Space Station.

Jack Hathaway

A NASA astronaut who will be the pilot for Adenot's flight to the International Space Station.

Andrey Fedyaev

A Russian cosmonaut who will be a mission specialist for Adenot's flight to the International Space Station.

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What they’re saying

“Adenot's mission was very important for Europe as she would be conducting experiments during her six-to-eight-month stay on the International Space Station.”

— Josef Aschbacher, Director General of the European Space Agency (RFI English)

What’s next

The crew will launch aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on a Falcon 9 rocket on February 13, 2026.

The takeaway

Adenot's mission represents an important milestone for France's space program, as she will be the second French woman to travel to space in over 30 years. Her experiments on the International Space Station will contribute to the development of space science and technology, which is crucial for future space exploration efforts.