A pinch of France in space
ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot selected the French chef Anne-Sophie Pic to develop the bonus food she will bring to the International Space Station during her mission εpsilon.
ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot launched to the International Space Station on 13 February 2026 for a mission called εpsilon.
The mission name embodies the essence of small, yet impactful, contributions. In mathematics, ε denotes a small quantity, much like an astronaut's role in the vastness of spaceflight. In astronomy, it represents the fifth-brightest star in a constellation.
Sophie flew to space with her Crew-12 crewmates on a SpaceX Dragon launching from Florida, USA. The crew of four included NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, as well as Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrei Fedyaev.
Launch: Friday, 13 February 2026 at 10:15 GMT/11:15 CET (05:15 ET) from Florida, USA
Docking: Saturday, 14 February at 20:15 GMT/21:15 CET
Undocking: Wednesday, 7 October at 12:05 GMT/14:05 CEST
Splashdown: Thursday, 8 October at 15:34 GMT/17:34 CEST
Spacecraft: SpaceX Dragon
Expeditions: 74/75
Spaceflight duration: 237 days, 5 hours and 18 minutes
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First mission
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EVAs
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First of the Hoppers to fly
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ESA astronauts Sophie Adenot and Raphaël Liégeois assigned for Space Station mission
ESA astronauts Sophie Adenot and Raphaël Liégeois have been assigned for their first spaceflights to the International Space Station (ISS) on missions currently planned for 2026. This significant milestone was announced today by ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher during the Space Council taking place in Brussels on 22 and 23 May 2024.
ESA’s astronaut class of 2022 graduate
On Monday 22 April ESA celebrated the graduation of its class of 2022 astronaut candidates. The ceremony, held at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, signified the successful completion of basic training for the five European astronaut graduates and the Australian Space Agency’s first astronaut, all now eligible for spaceflight assignments.
ESA astronaut graduation: launching into the future
One year of basic training will soon bear fruit for ESA’s astronaut candidates Sophie Adenot, Pablo Álvarez Fernández, Rosemary Coogan, Raphaël Liégeois, Marco Sieber and Australian Space Agency astronaut candidate Katherine Bennell-Pegg.On 22 April 2024, these astronaut candidates will receive their certification at ESA's European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, officially becoming fully fledged astronauts eligible for spaceflight.
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Sophie Adenot – Epsilon Mission video resources compilationnnnn
Epsilon Mission – Post-Flight – Balance and Strength training
Epsilon Mission – Post-Flight – Walking from :envihab to Cosmos Gym at EAC
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εpsilon website
εpsilon website
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RelaxPro: Helping astronauts sleep and manage stress in space
Astronauts on the International Space Station work in an out-of-this-world environment that is extremely demanding on both body and mind. Disrupted schedules, isolation, workload, physiological changes and extreme conditions can all affect wellbeing and performance. As a result, astronauts often face elevated stress and poor sleep, which can have serious consequences both on their safety and their performance levels.
EasyMotion‑2: Using electrical stimulation to preserve astronaut muscles in space
Life in space may look effortless as astronauts float through the International Space Station, but without the constant pull of gravity, their muscles and balance systems are no longer engaged the way they are on Earth. Over time, this leads to muscle atrophy, reduced strength and changes in neuromuscular control. Counter measures like daily exercise on the T2 treadmill, CEVIS bike and ARED weight‑lifting device help, but cannot fully compensate for the lack of gravity.
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Paris, France
Nevado Sajama, Bolivia
Parinacota, Chile and Bolivia
Pomerape and Parinacota, Chile and Bolivia
Humarata, Wallatiri and Guallatiri, Chile and Bolivia
Millau viaduct, France
Dune du Pilat, France
Lille, France
San Pablo Bay, United States
San Francisco Bay, United States
San Francisco Bay, United States
San Francisco Bay, United States
Kyzylkum, Kazakhstan
Perito Moreno National Park, Argentina
Madrid, Spain
Southwest France
Spectacular austral aurora
Bordeaux, France
La Réunion and Mauritius
La Réunion
Mauritius
La Camargue, France
Raiatea, French Polynesia
South-West of Paris, France
Tūpai, French Polynesia
Maupiti, French Polynesia
Saint-Brandon, Mauritius
Ari Atoll, Maldives
Mount Vesuvius, Italy
New dawn, new possibilities... 16 times a day!
Lanzarote during mission εpsilon
Lake Balkhash, Kazakhstan
Paris, France
Richat structure, Mauritania, observed from the ISS
Moonset over Earth
ESO's ELT telescope in the Atacama Desert, Chile
Heart-shaped mountin in Bolivia
ISS over Earth, picture by ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot
First picture from Cupola by ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot during the εpsilon mission
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εpsilon patch
Discover the symbolism behind the εpsilon patch.
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