Tribute to Sophie Adenot & Jessica Meir: 2 Trailblazing Women Writing a New Chapter in Space Explorationby FPDieulois :: 2026-04-28
In February 2026, the International Space Station welcomed a remarkable crew
that symbolizes the growing presence of women at the forefront of human spaceflight.
At the heart of this mission are two extraordinary astronauts:
Sophie Adenot, the second French woman in space, and Jessica Meir, a veteran NASA astronaut already famous for breaking barriers alongside Christina Koch.
Sophie Adenot: France’s New Star in Orbit
Born in 1982, Sophie Adenot is a helicopter test pilot, engineer, and colonel in the French Air and Space Force.
Selected by ESA in 2022 as part of the “Hoppers” class, she became the first from her group to fly in space.
On February 13, 2026, she launched aboard SpaceX Crew-12 (Crew Dragon Freedom)
from Cape Canaveral alongside NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, & Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrei Fedyaev.
The capsule docked with the ISS on February 14, marking the official start of her epsilon mission — expected to last up to nine months, the longest ESA astronaut mission to date.
As mission specialist, Sophie will work in both the European Columbus module and the Japanese Kibo laboratory, conducting over 200 scientific experiments in microgravity.
Her mission represents a proud milestone for France — 25 years after Claudie Haigneré became the first French woman aboard the ISS.
Sophie brings not only technical excellence but also a spirit of curiosity and determination.
Her journey from test pilot to astronaut inspires a new generation of European women in STEM and space exploration.
Jessica Meir: Veteran of Historic Firsts
Jessica Meir, a marine biologist and NASA astronaut, has already etched her name in history.
In October 2019, she and Christina Koch performed the first all-female spacewalk — a groundbreaking 7-hour, 17-minute EVA that shattered gender barriers in space.
Now, in 2026, Jessica serves as commander of Crew-12, sharing the ISS with Sophie Adenot.
This marks another powerful moment: two women from different space agencies working side by side on long-duration operations.
Christina Koch, Meir’s partner in that historic 2019 spacewalk, is currently preparing for Artemis II — the first crewed mission to fly around the Moon since Apollo.
The friendship and collaboration between Meir and Koch continue to inspire, showing how pioneering women support each other across missions and generations.
A New Era of Women in Space The presence of Sophie Adenot and Jessica Meir together on the ISS in 2026 is more than symbolic
. It reflects the progress made since the early days of spaceflight, when women were excluded or limited to supporting roles.
Today, they command missions, conduct critical science, perform spacewalks, and pave the way for future lunar and Martian exploration.
From Sophie’s long-duration European mission to Jessica’s veteran leadership and her historic partnership with Christina Koch, these women embody courage, competence, and collaboration.
As they orbit 400 km above Earth, conducting research that benefits humanity,
they remind us that the future of space belongs to everyone
— regardless of gender or nationality.
Vive la France, and congratulations to these remarkable astronauts.
The stars are brighter with you up there. Keep soaring! 
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