Historic Launch to the International Space Station
European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot, a distinguished French Air Force pilot, successfully launched to the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday, February 13, 2026. She embarked on this significant journey aboard the SpaceX Crew-12 mission, marking her first spaceflight and becoming the first member of her 2022 astronaut class to reach orbit.
The launch occurred at 5:15 a.m. EST (10:15 GMT/11:15 CET) from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, USA. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket propelled the Crew Dragon spacecraft, carrying Adenot and her crewmates, into orbit. Docking with the ISS is anticipated on Saturday, February 14, at approximately 3:15 p.m. ET (20:00 UTC / 21:00 CET), following an approximately 24-hour journey.
Meet the Crew-12 Mission Specialists
The Crew-12 mission represents the 12th operational NASA Commercial Crew Program flight and the 20th crewed orbital flight for a Crew Dragon spacecraft. The four-person international crew includes:
- Jessica Meir (NASA, Commander)
- Jack Hathaway (NASA, Pilot)
- Sophie Adenot (ESA, Mission Specialist)
- Andrey Fedyaev (Roscosmos, Mission Specialist)
Sophie Adenot's Distinguished Background
Born on July 5, 1982, in Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire, France, Sophie Adenot is an accomplished engineer and a Colonel in the French Air and Space Force. She made history in 2018 by becoming France's first female helicopter test pilot. Adenot holds a Master of Science in human factors engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Her extensive experience includes logging over 3,000 flight hours across 22 different helicopter types.
She was selected by the ESA in November 2022 from a pool of over 22,500 applicants, joining a class of five career astronauts. After completing her basic training in April 2024, she was assigned to her inaugural space mission, named 'εpsilon'. She is the second French woman to become an ESA astronaut, following Claudie Haigneré.
Mission Objectives and Scientific Endeavors
During her approximately nine-month stay on the orbiting laboratory, Adenot will focus on a wide array of tasks. Her responsibilities include conducting European-led scientific experiments, engaging in medical research, supporting Earth observation activities, and contributing to the station's ongoing operations and maintenance. A notable experiment involves the evaluation of EuroSuit, a prototype European intravehicular activity (IVA) spacesuit, to assess its ergonomics.
The broader Crew-12 mission aims to advance research and technology crucial for future human exploration of the Moon and Mars, while also delivering benefits to humanity on Earth. The launch date for Crew-12 was adjusted partly due to a medical issue on the preceding Crew-11 mission and delays in the Artemis II lunar mission.
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