Sophie Adenot returns from space with renewed passion

French astronaut Sophie Adenot, who spent 235 days this year at the International Space Station (ISS) and 237 days in total before returning to Earth, expressed her continued passion for space exploration during a press conference at the European Space Agency (ESA) headquarters in Paris on November 2.

Adenot remains committed to space exploration

Adenot, 44, stated she is "even more passionate" about exploration than before her departure and emphasized she does not plan to retire soon. She expressed a desire to continue her work in space, whether on the ground or during future missions, calling the profession "fascinating."

Vision for future space travel

Adenot declared her intention to contribute to "going a bit further in space exploration," using the phrase "Further, longer" to summarize her vision for the future of space travel. She noted that current missions are primarily in low orbit or around the Moon but suggested that in the coming decades, humanity could "dream a little bigger," including potential missions to the Moon or even Mars.

Cautious about Mars missions

However, Adenot was cautious about the idea of sending humans to Mars, stating that "humans are not ready to go to Mars" due to the challenges posed by prolonged exposure to microgravity and its effects on the human body. This view contrasts with Elon Musk, who has expressed strong support for establishing an autonomous city on Mars within more than 20 years.

Mars as a future goal debated

Additionally, following the success of the Artemis 2 mission, former U.S. President Donald Trump had previously spoken about the "next step, Mars!" as a potential future goal.