ESA-Astronaut Sophie Adenot - Tree planting and Press Conference

On January 5, 2026, French ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot planted an American sweetgum tree at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne to celebrate her first space mission, εpsilon. This tradition honors her achievements and the connection between space explorers and Earth.
The tradition of astronauts planting trees at the ESA Astronaut Center has its origins in the long-standing custom of cosmonauts planting trees in Kazakhstan before their launch. ESA adopted this ritual in Cologne, and astronauts from the 2009 and 2022 classes who participated in missions have continued it. Sophie Adenot is now continuing this tradition, adding her tree to a growing grove that forms a natural timeline of European astronautical achievements.
This was followed by Sophie Adenot's final press conference in Europe before her launch to the International Space Station. The launch of her mission, as a member of SpaceX Dragon Crew-12, is scheduled for February 15, 2026, from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida.
Sophie Adenot was selected as an ESA astronaut in 2022 and is currently undergoing final preparations and training for her first space flight. She chose the name “εpsilon” (Epsilon) for her first mission, named after the fifth letter of the Greek alphabet and the fifth brightest star in the constellation Leo, symbolizing the power of small but meaningful contributions and honoring the five professional astronauts of the ESA.