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Artemis II launch
Artemis II launch
Artemis II launch
Artemis II launch
EchoFinder setup and wrap-up
Since their arrival aboard the International Space Station on 14 February 2026, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot and NASA astronaut Jack Hathaway have already carried out two sessions of EchoFinder, an experiment developed by the French space agency CNES for the εpsilon mission. Each session takes about 3 to 4 hours, including the 30 minutes of installation/setup and 30 minutes of wrap-up shown in this timelapse.
EchoFinder tackles a simple yet crucial challenge for the future of human space exploration: how can astronauts perform a reliable ultrasound scan without medical training and without real-time support from a doctor?
EchoFinder is a software assistant that combines augmented reality and artificial intelligence. The augmented reality interface guides the astronaut by showing exactly where to position the ultrasound probe on the body. Once the probe is correctly placed, an artificial intelligence system takes over to identify the organs and record the images. In the future, these images would be sent to medical teams on Earth for diagnosis.
This technology was developed with upcoming space missions in mind, where communication delays would make remote assistance from a specialist impossible. It also has promising applications on Earth, for example on ships at sea, in submarines, or in remote areas without immediate access to medical expertise.
Artemis II: let's go
The Artemis II rocket at its launchpad at NASA's Kennedy Space CenterArtemis II rollout
Space Launch System, vollständig montiert für Artemis II, im Vehicle Assembly Building, einen Tag vor dem Transport zum Startkomplex 39B im Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, am 16. Januar 2026. Bildquelle: ESA-S. CorvajaOrion on a roll
In October 2025, the Artemis II Orion – complete with crew module, ESA’s European Service Module, solar arrays and launch abort system – was rolled 10 kilometres to the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, for stacking onto the Space Launch System rocket.European engineers came to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to install the four wings on Orion
Orion’s solar arrays were built at Airbus in the Netherlands; the same European engineers came to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to install the four wings on Orion.Solar arrays installed on NASA’s Artemis II Orion spacecraft
Solaranlagen, die am Orion-Raumschiff der NASA für die Artemis II Mission im Operations and Checkout Building des Kennedy Space Centers der NASA installiert wurden, Anfang März 2025. Bildquelle: Lockheed MartinESM 2 crew model stacked over service model
Das kegelförmige Besatzungsmodul wird im Kennedy Space Center auf das darunter liegende Servicemodul gesetzt. Bildquelle: NASA3 weeks and 3 cargo departures for εpsilon
This video was published on social media by ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot with the following caption:
Day 035, orbit 0541 – Three cargo vehicles departing the Station in just three weeks… and since I recorded this video, we also waved goodbye to a Progress!
The Northrop Grumman Cygnus NG23 was named S.S. William “Willie” McCool in honor of the NASA astronaut and naval aviator test pilot who perished in the 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia accident. Following a U.S. Navy tradition, Jack – who shares the same professional background – rang the Station bell to mark the spacecraft’s departure.
Follow Sophie’s mission on the εpsilon page and on her social media platforms, such as X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn.
Sophie Adenot shares an inspiring message from the ISS for International Women’s Day
[EN] “Believe in your dreams, believe in yourself, and believe in that little nothing, that εpsilon, that can change everything…”
ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, currently on board the International Space Station for the εpsilon mission, shared an inspiring message on Sunday 8 March 2026 to mark International Women’s Day.
[FR] « Croyez en vous. Croyez en vos rêves et en ce petit rien, cet εpsilon, qui peut changer une trajectoire… »
L’astronaute de l’ESA Sophie Adenot, actuellement à bord de la Station spatiale internationale pour la mission εpsilon, a partagé un message inspirant à l’occasion de la Journée internationale des droits des femmes, le dimanche 8 mars 2026.
Training for the εpsilon mission
ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot began her training at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, where she studied spacecraft systems and crew operations — learning to think and act as an astronaut. Alongside this, she conditioned her body for spaceflight and prepared for the physical and operational demands of her mission.
Her preparation includes continuous medical training and support, neutral buoyancy training for spacewalks and immersive virtual reality sessions at ESA’s XR Lab.
This video features interviews with Bimba Hoyer, Flight Surgeon at ESA; Hervé Stevenin, Head of EVA & Parabolic Flight Training Unit and Head of the Neutral Buoyancy Facility; and Lionel Ferra, Software and Artificial Intelligence Team Leader at ESA.
Sophie Adenot εpsilon mission experiments
During her mission aboard the International Space Station, Sophie Adenot will carry out a series of European-led experiments focused on health and crew autonomy.
Among them is the European Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device (E4D), a compact and versatile in-flight exercise system designed to support the future of human exploration. The mission also includes experiments conducted in collaboration with CADMOS, CNES’ centre dedicated to human spaceflight and microgravity research.
Alongside her scientific work, Sophie will contribute to several educational initiatives. Through ChlorISS (with CNES), she will grow seeds aboard the ISS while more than 260,000 students in over 4,000 schools replicate the experiment in their classrooms.
Students can also participate in the European Astro Pi Challenge, programming computers on the ISS to collect real orbital data, and in Mission X, where they train like astronauts through science and fitness challenges that promote healthy lifestyles on Earth and in space.
This video features interviews with Tobias Weber, Space Medicine Scientist at ESA, and Rémi Canton, Project Manager for Human Spaceflight at CADMOS.
In-flight call with ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot
On 26 February, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot conducted her first in-flight call with selected French media.
εpsilon mission patch explained
The εpsilon name and patch reflect the power of small, yet impactful contributions and how multiple parts unite to create a whole. In mathematics, “ε” represents something small. In the extensive collaborative effort of space exploration, involving thousands of participants, all roles, including the astronaut's role, stay small yet meaningful.
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