Four crew members concluded their eight-month mission aboard the International Space Station on Thursday, safely splashing down in the Pacific Ocean near the California coast. The return marked the end of a lengthy expedition that included significant milestones for the European Space Agency.
A standout achievement during the mission was recorded by French astronaut Sophie Adenot, who became the first French woman to perform a spacewalk outside the station. Over the course of her stay, Adenot completed a total of three extravehicular activities, conducting two on August 18 and 25, followed by a third on September 1.
The crew was recovered as planned, bringing the long-duration team back to Earth after nearly a year of continuous habitation and research in orbit.
Eight months in orbit and they land near California? I still get excited every time a SpaceX capsule splashes down safely.
Sophie Adenot’s three spacewalks are incredible. First French woman to do that? Truly groundbreaking for the ESA.