French astronaut Sophie Adenot has begun her return to Earth following an eight-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Olivier Sanguy, head of space news at the Cité de l’Espace in Toulouse, explained on France 24 the particular conditions of this atmospheric re-entry, notably the high speed, the extreme heat generated by friction with the atmosphere, as well as the effects of returning to Earth’s gravity on the astronauts’ bodies.
This return marks the end of a long mission for Sophie Adenot, who will need to readjust her body to Earth’s conditions after an extended period in microgravity.