Meet Jessica Meir and Sophie Adenot: The astronauts behind the historic all-female spacewalk
NASA astronaut Jessica Meir and ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot made history with the sixth all-female spacewalk on September 1, 2026. Their 6-hour-49-minute mission involved replacing key equipment on the International Space Station. Meir, a marine biologist who studied extreme-environment animals, brought a scientific background to spaceflight, while Adenot transitioned from aerospace engineering and helicopter test piloting. Their journeys highlight the diverse career paths, specialised expertise and teamwork that can lead to becoming an astronaut.
