French astronaut Sophie Adenot returns to Earth after an eight-month stay on the International Space Station, the longest uninterrupted orbital mission by a European astronaut. Multiple outlets report she leaves the ISS following the end of its mission and splashes down off the coast of California with three fellow crew members.
On her first public appearance after landing in Cologne, Germany, Adenot speaks about the emotional impact of her time in space, describing experiencing “the full range of human emotions,” from joyful moments to more difficult ones. France 24 and other outlets also note her spacewalking contributions during the mission, including becoming the first French woman to go outside the space station and completing three spacewalks in August and September.
After returning, Adenot begins a recovery and rehabilitation programme at the European Space Agency centre in Cologne before she travels back to France. Outlets also tie the landing to SpaceX’s role in bringing the crew back to Earth, alongside other astronauts on the same flight.
