Watch Sophie Adenot’s spacewalk live

Sophie Adenot, a European Space Agency astronaut, is scheduled to perform her inaugural spacewalk on Tuesday, 18 August, alongside NASA astronaut Anil Menon. The extravehicular activity (EVA) will commence at approximately 12:35 GMT, with the pair exiting the International Space Station through the Quest airlock to conduct repairs. This marks the 97th US spacewalk, focusing on replacing a Space-to-Ground Antenna (SGANT), a vital component for maintaining high-speed communication between the station and mission control in Houston.

The SGANT replacement is essential for ensuring uninterrupted data transmission and mission operations. Adenot and Menon will spend about six-and-a-half hours outside the orbital complex, supported by NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, who will assist in suiting up and operating the Canadarm2 robotic arm from inside the station. The spacewalkers will be identified by their spacesuit markings: Menon as Extravehicular Crew Member 1 (EV1) with red stripes, and Adenot as EV2 without stripes.

Adenot has undergone extensive training, accumulating over 150 hours underwater at ESA’s European Astronaut Centre in Cologne and NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, qualifying her for EVAs. In the weeks leading up to the spacewalk, she has focused on preparing spacesuits, tools, and reviewing procedures to ensure operational readiness. The mission underscores the collaborative efforts between ESA and NASA in maintaining the International Space Station’s infrastructure.

Live coverage of the spacewalk will be available on ESA WebTV and ESA’s YouTube channel starting at 11:00 GMT, providing real-time updates and insights into the operation. The event highlights the ongoing international cooperation in space exploration and the critical role of astronauts in maintaining and upgrading orbital facilities.