ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot returns after record-setting 237-day ISS mission
The four Crew-12 astronauts, including ESA’s Sophie Adenot, splashed down in the Pacific off Los Angeles after 237 days aboard the International Space Station. NASA said the crew completed more than 3,792 orbits and research on stem cells, on-demand IV fluids and other topics; Adenot became the first French woman to conduct a spacewalk.
Bottom line — Adenot completed three spacewalks; NASA says Jessica Meir carried out four, bringing her career total to seven.
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NASA said Crew-12 travelled more than 100 million miles and launched on 13 February, docking with the station a day later.
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Meir and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev were on their second space missions; Adenot and NASA astronaut Jack Hathaway were on their first, according to NASA.
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The crew studied whether pneumonia-causing bacteria can contribute to long-term heart damage, and examined nutrition and blood flow in space.
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NASA said the research and technology demonstrations support future human exploration beyond low Earth orbit.
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UNB reported the crew’s return was delayed because replacements arrived three weeks late after capsule repairs.
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UNB said the crew had launched earlier than planned to replace astronauts who returned early after NASA astronaut Mike Fincke fell ill.