ISS antenna repair restored after second spacewalk
French astronaut Sophie Adenot and American crewmate Anil Menon successfully replaced a faulty Space-to-Ground Antenna on the International Space Station, restoring critical communication links with mission control in Houston.
The International Space Station has regained its primary communication link with mission control in Houston, Texas, following the successful replacement of a faulty Space-to-Ground Antenna (SGANT). The repair was completed on 25 August 2026 by French astronaut Sophie Adenot and her American crewmate, Anil Menon, during a six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk.
The operation required two separate excursions into space due to mechanical difficulties encountered during the initial attempt. The first spacewalk, conducted a week prior, marked the first ever carried out by a French woman. Adenot described the technical setbacks as "stubborn bolts and connectors," noting that the crew faced "every mechanical problem possible" during that first outing.
In an exclusive interview with France 24 and RFI from 400 kilometres above Earth, Adenot characterised the successful completion of the repair as a "miracle." She acknowledged the pressure of the situation, stating that it was fortunate the fix required only two attempts rather than more. The antenna is critical for facilitating communication between the station and ground control.
Beyond the engineering challenges, Adenot highlighted visible indicators of climate change observed from orbit. She noted that France, which appeared "green" at her lift-off in February 2026, had turned "grey and yellow" by summer. She also reported seeing clouds of smoke from fires, drying lakes, and the Aral Sea shrinking "very quickly," with normally submerged islands visible beneath a thin layer of water.
Adenot, an astronaut with the European Space Agency, is due to return to Earth in approximately one month. She described the experience as "transformational" and expressed hope to share this perspective on her return to inspire others in the field. While the final assessment of the mission remains to be seen, nearly all planned scientific experiments have been carried out.
NASA has scheduled a third spacewalk to take place before 1 September 2026. This upcoming operation will involve Adenot and her Swedish-American crewmate, Jessica Meir, continuing the station's maintenance and scientific objectives.
