Three weeks after her return to Earth and her eight months spent in space, French astronaut Sophie Adenot continues her readjustment to terrestrial life and admitted Monday that going to the Moon would be “a dream.”
“I want to continue in this profession and try to contribute to going a little further in space exploration,” explained Sophie Adenot on Monday during a press conference organized at the Paris headquarters of the European Space Agency (ESA).
“The Moon, how beautiful it is!”, she said, when asked about particular memories that still stick in her mind. Then, later, when asked whether going to the Moon was in her sights: “In the viewfinder, that’s not the expression I would use, because I like it to remain in a dream state. Yes, it makes me dream of going to walk on the Moon. But no, I will not make it a goal even if it means doing anything,” she stressed.
“Yes, I dream of it”
The United States aims with its Artemis program to establish a base on lunar soil and prepare future missions to Mars. The return of the Americans to the lunar surface is now planned for the 4th mission of the Artemis program in 2028.
Italian Luca Parmitano was chosen last summer to become the first European to take part in a mission in the American lunar program. Alongside three Americans, within Artemis III, he will test two moonlanders near Earth in 2027.
“Me, I’m going to stay straight in my boots, authentic. And if one day these missions should take me to walk on the Moon, I will be delighted to do so and very honored to be entrusted with this great responsibility. I am well aware that this is completely out of my control, it is not me who will decide. But if this responsibility is entrusted to me, I will honor it with the biggest smile, the greatest joy and I will share it with great emotion because, yes, I dream of it,” she admitted.
