Archive · 7 Aug 2026
NASA astronauts Anil Menon, Jessica Meir complete ISS power-upgrade spacewalk
Two astronauts named Anil Menon and Jessica Meir put on special space suits and floated outside the International Space Station, which is a big spaceship that travels around Earth.
They worked like space mechanics for about six and a half hours, attaching special equipment to the outside of the station.
This equipment will help the station get more energy from the Sun using big, bendy solar panels that roll out like a yoga mat.
The panels give the space station electricity to keep the astronauts safe and to help their machines work.
This spacewalk was one of three planned for this month, and the astronauts did it as part of their job to keep the station in good shape.
More spacewalks are coming later this month to fix an antenna and connect more power cables.
The station needs power so it can be guided safely back to Earth in a careful way when its mission ends.
During their work, the astronauts took a little break to look at the Moon.
One of them even joked that he could see a future moon base there.
NASA astronauts Anil Menon and Jessica Meir completed a six-hour, 27-minute spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS), the 281st in support of the station, marking Meir's sixth excursion and Menon's first.
The astronauts installed mounting hardware on the 3B power channel of the Starboard 6 truss segment to enable future roll-out solar arrays called IROSA.
They also routed electrical cables for the future arrays and covered truss struts with multi-layer insulation after exiting the Quest airlock.
Since 2021, six IROSA assemblies have been installed, and two more are scheduled for delivery to the ISS later this year.
The mission was the first of three planned spacewalks by the ISS Expedition 75 crew this month, with the next two scheduled for August 13 and August 25.
- Who
- NASA astronauts Anil Menon and Jessica Meir of the ISS Expedition 75 crew.
- What
- A six-hour, 27-minute spacewalk to install hardware that will enable future roll-out solar arrays (IROSA) and boost the space station's power supply.
- When
- Friday, beginning at 8:33 am EDT on Thursday and concluding at 3:00 pm EDT (12:30 am IST Friday).
- Where
- Outside the International Space Station, working from the Quest airlock on the 3B power channel located on the Starboard 6 truss segment.
- Why
- To enable future installation of roll-out solar arrays that will provide additional power for critical systems and support the safe, controlled deorbit of the space station.
- Spacewalk duration
- 6 hours, 27 minutes
- Spacewalk number
- 281st in support of the ISS
- Astronauts
- Anil Menon (first spacewalk), Jessica Meir (sixth spacewalk)
- Work site
- 3B power channel, Starboard 6 truss segment
- Purpose
- Install mounting hardware for future IROSA roll-out solar arrays and route electrical cables
- IROSA status
- Six assemblies installed since 2021; two more to be delivered later this year
- Upcoming spacewalks
- August 13 (Space-to-Ground antenna replacement); August 25 (power channel cables and docking navigational aid)
- Mission
- First of three planned spacewalks by the ISS Expedition 75 crew this month
