French astronaut Sophie Adenot at a press conference at the European Space Agency in Cologne, Germany, January 5, 2026. French astronaut Sophie Adenot at a press conference at the European Space Agency in Cologne, Germany, January 5, 2026. PAU BARRENA/AFP

The astronaut community is unique in that it is difficult to fully grasp the person beneath the flight suit. Their flawless résumés and interpersonal and technical skills win over everyone who has the chance to meet them. Sophie Adenot, who is set to embark on a long-duration mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday, February 12, is no exception. “Warm,” “hardworking,” “enthusiastic,” “motivated,” “calm,” “professional”: Praise abounds for the European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut, who is expected to lift off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule atop a Falcon 9 rocket. On this occasion, Adenot will become the first from her 2022 class to fly and the 11th astronaut to represent France in space.

This place of honor has come with particularly intense training. Barely a month after receiving her ESA astronaut certification in April 2024, she was already chosen for a mission to the ISS scheduled for 2026. “Everything happened very, very quickly – so much so that the training teams and those managing our schedules at first thought it would be difficult,” said Adenot, 43. “But I was highly motivated, and personally, I like when things move fast, when everything happens in quick succession. It actually suited me well.” Looking at her extensive résumé, there is little doubt that speed and altitude are a perfect match for her.

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