Sophie Adenot prepares for ISS return and student radio exchange

French ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot is preparing for her return to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS). Her return is contingent upon the successful launch of the Crew-13 mission, which is scheduled for early October. The Crew-13 astronauts have already entered quarantine at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston to prepare for their deployment.

Adenot has been aboard the ISS since February 14, 2026, as part of the Epsilon mission. During her approximately eight-month stay, she has conducted roughly 200 scientific experiments and completed three spacewalks, including one entirely female crew EVA. Her mission represents the longest stay ever assigned to an ESA astronaut.

As part of the Perch’ISS educational project, students from the Perche region in France will participate in a live radio exchange with Adenot from the ISS on Friday, September 25, 2026. The session, organized through the ARISS program, will allow students from Bellême and Belforêt-en-Perche to ask the astronaut questions directly via radio contact.