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French Astronaut Sophie Adenot Begins Second Spacewalk to Complete Antenna Replacement

2 sources · France

Who reported this

  • Le Monde France · Centre-left · Fonds pour l'independance de la presse
  • France 24 France · Centre · Public · France Medias Monde (French state holding)

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Every source for this story reports from France.

French astronaut Sophie Adenot began her second spacewalk outside the International Space Station on Tuesday, August 25. Accompanied by American astronaut Anil Menon, Adenot is working to complete the replacement of a communication antenna used to connect the station with the control center in Houston, Texas. The mission is expected to last approximately six and a half hours.

This second outing follows a first spacewalk on August 18, during which Adenot became the first French woman to perform an extravehicular activity. During that initial mission, Adenot and Menon were unable to finish the antenna replacement due to stubborn bolts and connectors. NASA stated that this possibility had been anticipated and praised the astronauts for their resilience.

In addition to the antenna, the pair may attempt to replace a device called a retroreflector if time permits. This task could also be completed during a subsequent maintenance outing scheduled for September 1. Inside the station, crew members Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway are assisting by operating the Canadarm 2 robotic arm.

Adenot, a 44 year old engineer and former test pilot, is the second French person in history to fly in space after Claudie Haigneré. President Emmanuel Macron described her first spacewalk as a source of French pride.

How each side framed it

Centre-left
This reporting provided more personal context, including Adenot's social media reflections and the specific technical challenges encountered during the first walk.
Centre
These reports focused on the factual logistics of the mission and the timeline of the antenna replacement.

Sources

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