An Interview with Sophie Adenot

Astronaut

By Alexander Meyer

Early this morning, a SpaceX rocket launched into orbit from Cape Canaveral, Florida. On board are US astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, French astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. The crew is headed to the International Space Station (ISS)—a laboratory that orbits Earth in space! They will spend eight months working and living there.

Let’s talk with Sophie Adenot, the second French female astronaut to launch into space!

Who are you, Sophie Adenot?

I was born in Burgundy, France, and am a graduate engineer from the Higher Institute of Aeronautics and Space in Toulouse, France, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, Massachusetts. I am an astronaut, a lieutenant colonel in the French Air and Space Force, and helicopter pilot.
I have a young son. In my free time, I am a yoga instructor and I love spending time in the mountains and doing outdoor sports.

How did your passion for space begin?

I dreamed of space from a very young age. My grandfather worked as a mechanic in the Air Force. He gave me books to read, and I quickly became fascinated by astronaut stories. When I was 14, I saw French astronaut Claudie Haigneré go into space. That’s when I knew I wanted to become an astronaut, too.

What does it mean to be an astronaut?

An astronaut is someone who travels and works in space.
Astronauts need to be in good physical condition and have high-level technical and scientific skills. Because astronauts from different countries work together on the ISS, they must be able to speak different languages. I speak English, German, and Russian, and I know some Spanish.
My experience as a test pilot helps me stay calm and solve problems quickly, which will be useful for managing emergencies or unexpected situations.
This is why space agencies around the world recruit pilots, alongside scientists, doctors, and engineers. What matters in astronaut teams is the diversity of profiles, for better complementarity of skills.

How did you prepare for your mission?

I trained rigorously for almost three years. I practiced spacewalks in a giant swimming pool. I also completed virtual reality exercises and survival training.