Mission Epsilon — ESA × SpaceX Crew 12
Mission Epsilon is the European Space Agency's latest crewed mission to the International Space Station. French astronaut Sophie Adenot, a former helicopter test pilot, joins the Crew 12 mission aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft.
Return to Earth
After nearly eight months aboard the ISS, Sophie Adenot splashed down on 8 October 2026 with Crew-12, completing the longest spaceflight ever flown by a European.
- 7 Oct 2026 · 12:05 GMT
Undocking from the ISS
Dragon Freedom leaves Harmony's zenith port with Sophie Adenot, Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway and Andrei Fedyaev, starting a 27 h 29 min journey.
- 8 Oct 2026
Atmospheric re-entry
The heat shield withstands up to 1,600 °C. The capsule slows from ~28,000 km/h to 500 km/h; drogue chutes at ~5,500 m, then the four mains a minute later.
- 8 Oct 2026 · 15:34 GMT
Splashdown off California
Near Los Angeles. SpaceX recovery ship Shannon lifts the capsule aboard; Sophie is third to exit, smiling.
- 10 Oct 2026 · 04:21 GMT
Back in Europe, Cologne
Via Houston (Ellington Field), aboard a French Air and Space Force A330 Phénix, to ESA's European Astronaut Centre (EAC). 2–3 weeks of readaptation at DLR's :envihab.
Official ESA, NASA & SpaceX videos
Only videos published by the official ESA and NASA channels. Beware of recycled or AI-generated "live streams" circulating on YouTube.
Her experiments in space
Health, materials, biology, fluid and radiation physics: a programme prepared by ESA and CNES's CADMOS centre, including technologies for future Moon and Mars missions.
EchoFinder
Fully autonomous ultrasound scans guided by augmented reality, without a doctor on the ground.
PhysioTool
Monitoring astronaut health for future deep-space missions.
EchoBones
Ultrasound bone imaging to measure bone loss in weightlessness.
MultISS
Analysing surface bio-contamination on the Station.
MatISS-4
Innovative surfaces that stay clean and limit microbes.
EuroSuit
Testing a French spacesuit.
ChlorISS
Plant-growing experiment shared with schools.
Lumina
Fibre-optic dosimeter measuring radiation on board.
FoodProcessor
Preparing food in microgravity to make crews more self-sufficient.
E4D
New European exercise device, tested for the first time.
Impression 3D métal / Metal 3D printing
Producing metal parts in orbit for crew autonomy.
Follow on X
Official accounts that covered Sophie Adenot's return.
Sophie Adenot
Sophie Adenot is a French ESA astronaut selected in 2022. A lieutenant-colonel in the French Air and Space Force, she is a helicopter test pilot with over 3,000 flight hours. She is the first French woman to fly to the ISS since Claudie Haigneré in 2001.
Launch Vehicle
SpaceX Crew Dragon — the most reliable crewed spacecraft currently in operation. Fully autonomous docking with the ISS, with capacity for 7 astronauts.
Mission Objectives
Microgravity Research
Over 50 experiments in biology, physics, and material sciences will be conducted during the 6-month stay aboard the ISS.
European Technology Demonstration
Testing new ESA technologies for life support, communications, and future deep-space missions.
STEM Outreach
Live educational broadcasts with schools across Europe to inspire the next generation of scientists and astronauts.
Health & Human Physiology
Studies on the effects of long-duration spaceflight on the human body, key data for future lunar and Mars missions.