ISS hosts first spacewalk by a Frenchwoman

For context, the six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk was planned to replace an antenna that helps the ISS communicate with mission control in Houston, according to NASA.

Key points

• "I'm out, " 44-year-old Adenot remarked after leaving the ISS, concerning 400 kilometers (250 miles) above Earth.
• After space pioneer Claudie Haignere, an engineer by training and a former test pilot, Adenot became the second Frenchwoman to travel into space in February.
• Adenot became the second European woman to conduct a spacewalk after Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti.
• NASA remarked flight engineer Jack Hathaway and station commander Jessica Meir would monitor the astronauts and operate a robotic arm from inside the ISS.
• During the spacewalk, Adenot and Menon were scheduled to first remove the old antenna before retrieving and installing its replacement.

Adenot became the second European woman to conduct a spacewalk after Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti. This person completed one in 2022.

In the days leading up to the mission, Adenot prepared by reviewing the spacesuits, tools and safety procedures she would need to follow outside the space station.

"A successful (spacewalk) starts long before the hatch opens, " Adenot remarked on X on Sunday, adding that she had spent the previous days rehearsing, preparing and focusing on the mission.

According to Adenot previously, spacewalks are a team effort, noting that astronauts inside the station additionally play an significant role in supporting those working outside.

Meanwhile, the last French person to walk in space was Thomas Pesquet. This person did so six times over two stays aboard the ISS.

For now, ISS hosts first spacewalk by a Frenchwoman remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.