According to Romain Gutkind with AFP, Sophie Adenot and NASA astronaut Anil Menon completed a six-hour spacewalk outside the International Space Station on August 25, 2026, to dismantle a faulty communication antenna known as SGANT.
Completing the SGANT Antenna Repair Outside the ISS
The mission began at 12:27 GMT, with Adenot and Menon stepping out into open space around the ISS twenty minutes later, according to AFP. The spacewalk marked Adenot’s second excursion outside the station in August. Previously, the 44-year-old French astronaut carried out her first spacewalk on August 18 alongside Menon, stating she loved working in the vacuum of space, as reported by Gutkind.
During their latest outing, the two astronauts spent more than six hours outside the orbiting laboratory. Their primary objective was to finish a maintenance task involving the faulty Space-to-Ground antenna, which allows the ISS to communicate with mission control in Houston. On their earlier spacewalk, the crew encountered stubborn bolts and connectors, running out of time to fully replace the hardware. This second attempt involved retrieving a new antenna, installing it, and transferring the faulty SGANT unit to a designated storage location.
Did you know? Sophie Adenot is the second French woman to fly into space. Fellow French astronaut Claudie Haigneré preceded her with missions in 1996 and 2001, according to historical records cited by AFP.
Additional Spacewalk Objectives and Station Maintenance
Beyond the primary antenna replacement, the extravehicular activity included secondary tasks depending on time constraints and equipment hurdles. According to the reporting, if unforeseen problems or stubborn bolts did not slow them down, Adenot and Menon planned to reinstall a “retroreflector” on the exterior of the station.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SGANT antenna on the ISS?
The SGANT (Space-to-Ground antenna) is critical equipment that allows the International Space Station to communicate directly with mission control in Houston, according to AFP.
How long did the spacewalk last?
Sophie Adenot and Anil Menon spent more than six hours working outside the space station during their second August spacewalk.
Who was the first French woman in space before Sophie Adenot?
Claudie Haigneré flew into space in 1996 and 2001, making Adenot the second French woman to achieve the milestone when she flew in February.
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