In its Greek meaning, the letter “e” or Epsilon, is linked to small contributions, to tiny things that might seem insignificant, but which nevertheless have a very real impact.
However, even if this is the name that was given to Sophie Adenot‘s mission in the International Space Station (ISS), it is difficult to see, given the list of things that the French astronaut will have to accomplish, how this can be considered “small”!
Patch of the Epsilon mission of Sophie Adennot. © THAT
To begin with, the mission will last no less than nine months, which is particularly long on board the ISS for a single flight, but in addition, Sophie Adenot will have to carry out around 200 experiments during her stay. Most are in the hands of foreign laboratories, and the astronaut will only make his contribution to work carried out by other of his colleagues. But there are a handful led by France, via the Cnes.
Essential missions for health
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To begin with, several experiments carried out by Sophie Adenot will be linked to health. An essential area on board the ISS as shown by the setbacks recently encountered by the Crew-11 astronauts who had to rush back to Earth after a medical problem.
Thus, the Frenchwoman will have to use a system ofultrasound new called EchoFinder which can be practiced in complete autonomy with the help of the augmented realitywhich can be particularly useful for carrying out operations directly from space, without help from Earth. Particularly in microgravity when the organs are slightly displaced compared to an individual on Earth.
Likewise, it will test EchoBones, another ultrasound tool, but intended for bones to assess bone density and structure, as well as blood flow. Without forgetting PhysioTool, a tool that carries out complete physiological monitoring of astronauts, from blood pressure to respiratory rate, including temperature and sleep quality.
Innovations in safety and hygiene
Without being a particularly dirty place because hygiene conditions are closely monitored, the ISS is conducive to the development of germs and other bacteria. But Sophie Adenot will be able to measure all of this using a tool called MultISS, which will analyze surface bio-contaminants which could damage the equipment, or even alter the health of astronauts.
In the same spirit, it will implement MatISS-4, a device intended to capture atmospheric contaminants to prevent viruses or bacteria do not develop on board the station. The first part of this experiment was entrusted at the time to Thomas Pesquet.
Sophie Adenot, very happy to try her EMU spacesuit at NASA’s Johnson center. © ESA, NASA
And then, let’s not forget another innovation tested on this occasion by the astronaut: EuroSuit. An intra-vehicular suit developed in partnership with Decathlon which is supposed to be protective, but also easy to put on and take off.
Follow-up with previous work
In addition to these new missions, Sophie Adenot will also continue the work started by her predecessors. This will notably be the case with a dosimeter intended to measure radiation in the ISS. Lumina was developed for Thomas Pesquet in 2021 and is still in operation, used to prepare for the more distant journeys that astronauts will one day undertake.
In another area, Food Processor, the robot space culinary was used by Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen in 2023 and Sophie Adenot will integrate new foods for an appetizing recipe called “Mediterranean duo”.
And then, Sophie Adenot will also continue a project started in 2017 by Thomas Pesquet: EveryWear, a application which collects a lot of medical data to provide comprehensive monitoring of astronauts and transmit the data to doctors on the ground.
Space gardening… and in schools
Finally, this last experiment has limited scientific interest, but it is above all an educational mission intended for French schools.
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sciences
Why will Sophie Adenot do botany in space?
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ChlorISS plans to germinate plant seeds –ladies’ Arabette and mizuna – aboard the station, while students from elementary to high school will do the same on Earth.
Arabette des dames. © Matas Navickas, Wikimedia Commons
All this will be an opportunity to see the effects of microgravity on plant growth… but above all to interest young people in what is happening in space.
