Sophie Adenot returns to Earth after record-breaking ISS mission

French astronaut Sophie Adenot has returned to Earth following a successful eight-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Crew-12 mission. During her 235-day stay, Adenot set a new record for the longest duration spent in space by a European astronaut, regardless of gender.

Upon her arrival at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, Adenot appeared physically weakened while adapting to Earth's gravity. She described the experience of observing Earth from space as “precious” because “no divisions or borders are seen.”

Her mission included conducting scientific experiments, performing maintenance, and completing three spacewalks. One notable spacewalk on August 18 involved installing a communication antenna. Following the capsule's splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, the crew was processed in Houston, United States, before Adenot's final arrival in Germany.