Sophie Adenot returns to Earth after 235 days in orbit, a European record2026-10-10Sophie Adenot splashed down in the Pacific off the coast of California on October 8, after a 27-hour return journey from the International Space Station.With 235 days in orbit, she holds the record for the longest continuous space stay by a European astronaut.At her first public appearance, in Cologne on October 10, she spoke about the full range of emotions she experienced during her mission and the physical difficulties of returning to Earth.She is expected to undergo about three weeks of recovery from the effects of weightlessness, including bone and muscle loss.During her mission, she became the first French woman to perform a spacewalk, and completed three.'All human emotion': French astronaut Sophie Adenot's first words since returning to Earth (France 24)« Envoyez-moi dans l’espace ! » : Sophie Adenot, de retour sur Terre, confie ses émotions (La Croix)Espace: «Je suis passée par toutes les émotions humaines», dit Sophie Adenot, de retour en Europe (RFI)Sophie Adenot émue aux larmes à son retour (Franceinfo)The week in pictures: French student protests, October 7 anniversary and Adenot's return to Earth (France 24)‘No divisions, no borders’, French astronaut says about Earth (Dawn)