A French astronaut orbiting 400 kilometers above Earth took questions from a packed hall in Berlin, while Germany’s top space officials listened from the front row. Sophie Adenot, a European Space Agency astronaut, joined the ILA Berlin 2026 air show live from the International Space Station on June 11, 2026, for a rare in-flight conversation about life in orbit and Europe’s future in human spaceflight.
A direct line to the ISS
The call connected Adenot on the ISS with ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher and ESA Director of Human and Robotic Exploration Daniel Neuenschwander, who were on stage in Berlin. Also present were ESA astronauts Alexander Gerst and Matthias Maurer, along with Thomas Reiter, a former ESA astronaut who now heads the Space and Security Department at Germany’s Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space. The event gave the German aerospace community a real-time look at daily operations aboard the station.
What Adenot shared from orbit
During the 19-minute conversation, Adenot described her work and life on the ISS, offering a firsthand account of experiments, daily routines, and the experience of living in microgravity. The discussion also turned to Europe’s broader ambitions in human spaceflight, with officials on the ground emphasizing the continent’s growing role in orbital research and future missions. The exchange was part of ILA Berlin, one of the world’s largest aerospace trade shows, held in the German capital.
Why this mattered in Berlin
For the German aerospace sector, the call was a tangible reminder that European astronauts are active participants on the ISS. With officials from ESA and Germany’s space ministry present, the conversation underscored the country’s investment in human spaceflight and its collaboration with European partners. The event allowed industry professionals and the public to see a working astronaut in real time, reinforcing the relevance of Germany’s space programs.
Adenot’s call from orbit did not announce new missions or policy shifts. It simply showed that a European astronaut was up there, working, and that the people responsible for sending her had gathered in Berlin to listen.
