ESA's Sophie Adenot to become first French woman to perform spacewalk on August 18: Livestream details

Adenot shall be accompanied by NASA’s Anil Menon who accomplished his first spacewalk with station commander Jessica Meir on August 6.

The US Spacewalk 97, which was postponed two weeks in the past, is on observe for Tuesday, August 18. NASA astronaut Anil Menon, together with the European House Company’s (ESA) Sophie Adenot, will step out of the International Space Station to interchange an previous high-speed information and communications antenna on the orbital outpost’s Z1 truss section. The spacewalk will final about six-and-a-half hours and can mark Adenot’s debut on the upkeep job. She shall be accompanied by Menon, who accomplished his first spacewalk with station commander Jessica Meir on August 6. Adenot, who can be on her first area mission (Crew-12), will grow to be the primary French lady to carry out a spacewalk.

The four members of NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station pose together for a crew portrait in their pressure suits at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California. (Image Source: SpaceX) — The 4 members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission—Andrey Fedyaev, Jack Hathaway, Jessica Meir, and Sophie Adenot (left to proper)—at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California. (Picture Supply: SpaceX)

Adenot and Menon, together with Meir and flight engineer Jack Hathaway, ended final week reviewing spacewalk procedures and learning the related maneuvers of Canadarm2, to which Menon shall be hooked up. Meir and Hathaway will assist the 2 spacewalkers get out and in of their spacesuits on Tuesday and also will be working the Canadarm2 from contained in the orbital laboratory. “The 4 astronauts gathered collectively on Friday and practiced simulated robotics maneuvers on a pc essential to help the antenna alternative spacewalk. The quartet reviewed the arm’s exact actions, totally different working modes, and security procedures to make sure Menon has entry to the upkeep worksites in the course of the spacewalk,” a NASA statement from August 14 learn.

The place to look at the spacewalk stay?

Menon and Adenot’s spacewalk is scheduled to start at 8:35 am EDT, and NASA has deliberate a livestream on its YouTube channel. You too can watch it stay on X, Discovery+, Amazon Prime, and NASA+.

Anil Menon’s spacesuit downside

NASA has labored by means of an issue that was encountered in the direction of the tip of Menon’s spacewalk. The carbon dioxide sensor on Menon’s spacesuit indicated an unexpected data reading however returned to regular after removing of the go well with. This was the problem that resulted in Spacewalk 97 getting postponed, with engineers on the bottom additionally contemplating a change of spacesuits for it.

Jack Hathaway assists Anil Menon inside the Quest airlock as he tried on a spacesuit to verify its comfort, mobility, and functionality to prepare for a spacewalk. — Jack Hathaway assists Anil Menon contained in the Quest airlock as he tried on a spacesuit to confirm its consolation, mobility, and performance to arrange for a spacewalk. (Picture Supply: NASA/Jessica Meir)

Inconsistencies in CO₂ readings make it tougher to observe a essential security parameter, and mission controllers wouldn’t know if it exceeds acceptable limits. According to research, excessive ranges of carbon dioxide may cause respiration difficulties, diminish an astronaut’s psychological talents, and trigger complications, limiting their means to deal with essential duties.

NASA astronaut Anil Menon photographed during his spacewalk outside the ISS on August 6, 2026. — NASA astronaut Anil Menon photographed throughout his spacewalk outdoors the ISS on August 6, 2026. (Picture Supply: NASA)

However all appears properly for now, and the ISS residents are persevering with with area analysis as common previous to the spacewalk. Final week, Menon examined his visible and cognitive variations to weightlessness, whereas Adenot examined EasyMotion-2—a go well with that sends electrical impulses and triggers muscle contractions to complement a exercise session. Hathaway, alternatively, inspected hatch seals whereas Meir cleaned electronics gear and configured an ultrasound machine. On the Russian facet, cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev inspected laptops and configured cameras on Friday, whereas Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina launched two spheres contained in the station to calculate how exterior forces have an effect on the area station because it orbits Earth.