AI Insight
ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot conducted a 6.5-hour spacewalk on August 25, 2026, working with NASA astronaut Anil Menon to replace a Space-to-Ground antenna on the International Space Station's exterior at an altitude of 250 miles (400 kilometers). This was the second EVA required to complete the antenna replacement after the first attempt ran out of time. Adenot became the first French woman to perform an extravehicular activity during the initial spacewalk one week earlier.
Why it matters
The successful maintenance of critical ISS communication systems demonstrates the capability to conduct complex repairs in extreme conditions at orbital velocities of 17,500 mph. This work is essential for maintaining the operational integrity of the space station, which serves as a platform for scientific research and international collaboration in low Earth orbit.
Understand the Science
Repairing an engineering marvel like the International Space Station is no easy feat by itself, but it’s even more impressive when it’s done 250 miles (400 kilometers) up.
What is it?
In this photograph, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot works on the exterior of the International Space Station on Aug. 25, 2026.
The photo was taken while Adenot and NASA astronaut Anil Menon were conducting a 6.5-hour spacewalk, or extravehicular activity (EVA), to replace one of two Space-to-Ground antennas on the outside of the ISS.
This was the second EVA that Adenot and Menon performed to replace the antenna. During a previous spacewalk a week earlier, the pair ran out of time before the new antenna could be installed.
With that first spacewalk, Adenot became the first woman from France to ever conduct an EVA.
Why is it incredible?
It can be hard to conceptualize just how high up the ISS orbits until you see a photo like this one; few people on Earth have ever flown as high as 250 miles (400 km), so that altitude can feel a bit abstract. Seeing an astronaut like Adenot clinging to the space station with the clouds and blue oceans of Earth below puts things into perspective.
At that height, the ISS orbits at quite a high rate of speed. The orbital laboratory zips around Earth at 17,500 mph (28,000 kph), meaning it circles the planet 16 times a day. This photo was taken on day 194, or orbit 3010, of Adenot’s mission, which began in February when she launched to the ISS as part of NASA’s Crew-12 mission.
Source: Repairing the ISS 250 miles above Earth | Space photo of the day for Sept. 1, 2026