CNES – Friday, February 13, 2026, at 11:15 CET, the Falcon 9 launcher successfully completed its mission from Cape Canaveral, Florida, placing SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule into orbit with French ESA (European Spaxce Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot on board, along with three other astronauts: Americans Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, and Russian Andrey Fedyaev. The capsule is expected to reach the International Space Station (ISS) on February 14 at 21:15 CET.
Sophie Adenot is on her way to the ISS for a mission of approximately nine months. At 43 years old, she is the eleventh astronaut of French nationality to travel into space. An aeronautical engineer turned test pilot and then astronaut, Sophie was trained to travel aboard the Crew Dragon capsule.
During this mission, lasting approximately nine months, Sophie Adenot will conduct over 200 scientific experiments. Among these experiments, ten were developed by CADMOS (Centre for the Development of Activities in Microgravity and Space Operations) at CNES, including seven new ones, as part of the national contribution.
Some experiments aim to deepen scientific knowledge and research in various fields, particularly physiology, which is one of CADMOS’s historical areas of expertise. Others will test innovative technologies to anticipate future challenges, especially those related to human exploration missions to the Moon or Mars. Finally, Sophie Adenot will conduct an educational experiment called ChlorISS, which aims to engage young people in the space sector in a fun way and inspire scientific vocations.
Founded in 1993, CADMOS builds on more than 40 years of experience gained through missions and international cooperation, since the first French crewed flight in 1982. As a European center supporting ISS operations, it excels in the preparation, monitoring, and analysis of microgravity experiments. In this capacity, CADMOS will operate around thirty additional experiments on behalf of ESA during the Epsilon mission. Its state-of-the-art facilities, including laboratories and control rooms, as well as its collaboration with MEDES for space physiology, make CADMOS a key player in European space exploration.
Source: ESAthe Falcon 9 launcher successfully completed its mission from Cape Canaveral, Florida, placing SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule into orbit with French ESA (European Spaxce Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot on board