ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot arrived back in Europe on October 10, 2026, landing in Cologne, Germany, after completing a 237-day mission aboard the International Space Station. Adenot flew as part of the Crew-12 mission.
Record-Breaking Mission
Sophie Adenot spent a total of 237 days, 5 hours and 18 minutes in space after launching on February 13, 2026, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. According to the European Space Agency, the epsilon mission set a new European record for the longest single spaceflight, beating the previous record held by ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano by over 35 days.
The agency stated that Crew-12 is the longest SpaceX Dragon mission to date, surpassing the previous record of 235 days set by Crew-8. Adenot also became the first French woman and second European woman to conduct a spacewalk, completing three spacewalks totaling 19 hours and 42 minutes outside the station.
Science and Technology Tests
During the epsilon mission, Adenot worked on European experiments spanning health research, materials science, biology, fluid physics, radiation physics, and fundamental science. She spent roughly 218 hours working on 35 European payloads.
Adenot also tested technologies for future exploration missions, including the new European exercise device E4D and in-orbit metal 3D printing. She completed all ESA experiments and CNES epsilon-specific experiments assigned to her.
Next Steps for the Astronaut
Adenot landed in Cologne, Germany, on October 10 after returning via Houston and a French Air and Space Force Airbus A330 MRTT Phénix. She will spend two to three weeks adjusting to Earth’s gravity and undergoing data collections at the German Aerospace Center facility :envihab.
Following data collection, Adenot will continue her rehabilitation and follow-up activities with the European Astronaut Centre training team.
Key facts and where they come from
- ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot returned to Earth after 237 days aboard the International Space Station.
ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot has arrived back in Europe, landing in Cologne, Germany, following her return to Earth with Crew-12 after 237 days
- The epsilon mission set a new European record for the longest single spaceflight.
The εpsilon mission set a new European record for the longest single spaceflight, exceeding by more than 35 days the previous record
- Crew-12 is the longest SpaceX Dragon mission to date.
Crew-12 is also the longest SpaceX Dragon mission to date, surpassing the previous record of 235 days set by Crew-8.
- Sophie Adenot is the first French woman to conduct a spacewalk.
Sophie is the second European woman, after ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, and the first French woman to conduct an Extra Vehicular Activity