Sophie Adenot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sophie Adenot
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Sophie Adenot at the announcement of the 2022 European Space Agency Astronaut Group in Paris
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| Born | July 5, 1982 Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire, France |
| Allegiance | France |
| Service/ |
French Air and Space Force |
| Years of service | 2005–present |
| Rank | Lieutenant colonel |
| Unit | Escadron d'Hélicoptères 1/67 Pyrénées (2008-2012) High Authority Transport Squadron (2012-2017) |
| Alma mater | École Nationale Supérieure de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cranfield University |
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| Space career | |
| ESA astronaut | |
| Selection | 2022 ESA Group |
Sophie Adenot (born on July 5, 1982) is an amazing French engineer, helicopter pilot, and astronaut! She is a lieutenant colonel in the French Air and Space Force. In 2018, she made history by becoming France's first female helicopter test pilot. Then, in 2022, she was picked to join the European Astronaut Corps, which means she's training to go to space!
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Early Life and School Days
Sophie Adenot was born on July 5, 1982. Her hometown is Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire in Burgundy, France. Her mom, Isabelle Adenot, was a pharmacist. Her dad, Hubert Adenot, was a notary.
Sophie went to special schools for daughters of people in the National Order of the Legion of Honour. These schools helped her get ready for college.
From 2001 to 2003, Sophie studied engineering. She went to ISAE-SUPAERO in Toulouse, France. There, she learned all about how aircraft and spacecraft fly. She earned her degree in 2004.
She also got a Master of Science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States. At MIT, she studied how our bodies adapt to different types of gravity. She researched how astronauts could train using a special machine called a centrifuge.
After MIT, in 2004, Sophie worked at Airbus Helicopters. She helped design the control areas, or cockpits, for helicopters. She worked on the H225 helicopters.
Sophie's Amazing Career
Flying for the Air Force
Sophie Adenot joined the French Air Force in 2005. After learning to fly helicopters, she became a pilot. From 2008 to 2012, she flew Caracal helicopters. Her missions included search and rescue in tough areas.
In 2012, she joined a special squadron. This group was in charge of flying important people. They transported the country's leader, government ministers, and visitors from other nations.
In 2018, Sophie went to the Empire Test Pilots' School in the United Kingdom. She trained to become a test pilot. When she finished, she became France's first female helicopter test pilot! She even won an award for being the best test pilot in her class.
After her training, she worked as a helicopter test pilot. She tested new helicopters for the French government. By 2022, she had flown for 3,000 hours. She had experience with 22 different types of helicopters!
Sophie moved up in rank in the Air Force. She became a lieutenant in 2006. Then she became a captain in 2009. In 2014, she became a commandant. Finally, in 2020, she reached the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Becoming an Astronaut
In 2022, Sophie Adenot was chosen to join the European Astronaut Corps. This is a group of astronauts for the European Space Agency. She is the second French woman to become an astronaut, after Claudie Haigneré.
Sophie and 16 other people were chosen from 22,500 candidates! That's a lot of competition! Sophie is expected to be the first from her group to fly to the International Space Station (ISS). Her mission is planned for Spring 2026.
Awards and Special Recognitions
Sophie Adenot has received many honors for her work.
In 2020, she was recognized by the Young Leaders program. This program is run by the French-American Foundation.
In 2021, she received a special medal. It was the Medal of the French National Assembly. She got it for being an inspiring role model. She helped show that girls can do anything in science!
In 2022, she was appointed a chevalier. This is a high honor in the French National Order of Merit.
