Two European astronauts who have just graduated have been assigned to future missions aboard the ISS in 2026: the Frenchwoman Sophie Adenot, followed by the Belgian Raphaël Liégeois. Here's how they prepare before their first big space trip.
Thomas Pesquet's succession in space is assured. Frenchwoman Sophie Adenot, who has just completed her astronaut training at the European Astronaut Center (EAC) in Cologne, will go into space in 2026. This is what what was announced the European Space Agency (ESA) on Wednesday May 22, 2024. Sophie Adenot will thus be the first astronaut in her class to go into space, aboard the International Space Station (ISS), in spring 2026. She will be followed at in the fall by the Belgian Raphaël Liégeois, also a recent graduate.
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Each in turn, they will leave for the ISS for long-term missions (perhaps they will even cross paths in space). There, they will have to conduct scientific experiments, medical research, observe the Earth and take care of the maintenance of the station.
Sophie Adenot, French astronaut: “I don’t see it at all as a waiting period”
Since graduating in April, Sophie Adenot and Raphaël Liégeois have been part of the European Astronaut Corps. The Frenchwoman certainly says she is ready for potential future missions, but the training does not stop at the gates of the EAC. Several steps still remain to be validated, including “ a robotics module in Canada, a spacewalk qualification module in the United States, with the spacesuit and the scale model of the ISS », explains Sophie Adenot. Not to mention the lessons which will be directly linked to the objectives of the mission planned aboard the station.
Furthermore, astronauts must continue to participate in the European Astronaut Center program to support space exploration. “ The schedule is going to be very busy though. », smiles Sophie Adenot. Before hoping to take off into the sky, astronauts must go the distance, sometimes for many years. For Sophie Adenot and Raphaël Liégeois, it will be at least 2 years (if their mission is not postponed after 2026, which can never be ruled out).
Raphaël Liégeois, Belgian astronaut: “We run a marathon, not a 100 meters”
The two astronauts should also continue to benefit from the support of their French colleague Thomas Pesquet. He has already greatly contributed to their training, Sophie Adenot tells us. “ It's an incredible opportunity. Thomas Pesquet made the French love space. I am the first to be full of gratitude for what he did, he was generous with everything he shared. On a daily basis, he is super generous for us, in terms of advice, to explain the experience as a whole.. »
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Finally, there will necessarily be an element of uncertainty for future astronauts, until the big day of takeoff, the first wanderings in space, the first extravehicular exit… Which is not necessarily a bad thing. “ I try to preserve some mystery and not project myself too much into what will happenRaphaël Liégeois tells us. I know I'll be surprised. I try not to precondition myself too much to keep the magic and remain a blank sheet ready to print what will happen when I am in space. Obviously I'll be spending a lot of time in the dome looking at Earth, but I have a feeling it's going to be something I can't imagine right now. »
As Sophie Adenot says when we ask her about the future: “ Ask me this question again at the end of this adventure. »