Archive · 7 Aug 2026
Indian-origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon makes first spacewalk
An astronaut named Anil Menon went outside the International Space Station for the very first time.
Going outside a spaceship to work in space is called a spacewalk.
Menon did the spacewalk with another NASA astronaut named Jessica Meir.
They wore special spacesuits to stay safe in the vacuum of space.
The spacewalk lasted about six and a half hours.
Their job was to get the space station's power system ready for new solar panels.
Solar panels catch sunlight and turn it into electricity for the space station.
The new solar panel will give the station extra power for science experiments.
Menon was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and his parents came from Ukraine and India.
NASA showed the spacewalk on live video so people could watch.
Indian-origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon conducted his first-ever spacewalk (EVA) outside the International Space Station on Thursday.
He was joined by veteran NASA astronaut Jessica Meir, on her sixth spacewalk, for US Spacewalk 96.
The spacewalk began around 5:30 pm (IST) according to one report, while another cites an 8:33 am (US time) start, with a planned duration of about 6.5 hours.
Menon and Meir installed hardware on the ISS's 3B power channel to prepare for the future installation of a new Roll-Out Solar Array (iROSA), the seventh on the station.
Menon, a physician and mechanical engineer selected by NASA in 2021, was born in Minneapolis to Ukrainian and Indian immigrant parents and is on his first spaceflight; two more US spacewalks are scheduled this month.
- Who
- Indian-origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon, joined by veteran NASA astronaut Jessica Meir (on her sixth spacewalk).
- What
- Menon carried out his first-ever extravehicular activity (EVA), designated US Spacewalk 96, installing hardware on the ISS's 3B power channel to prepare for a new Roll-Out Solar Array.
- When
- Thursday; start time reported as around 5:30 pm (IST) and also as 8:33 am (US time), with a planned duration of about 6.5 hours.
- Where
- Outside the International Space Station, with NASA streaming live coverage.
- Why
- To upgrade the station's power system and prepare the 3B power channel for the future installation of an ISS Roll-Out Solar Array (iROSA).
- Astronaut
- Anil Menon (NASA, first spacewalk)
- Spacewalk
- US Spacewalk 96
- Spacewalk partner
- Jessica Meir (sixth spacewalk, EV-1)
- Start time
- Around 5:30 pm IST (one report); 8:33 am US time (another)
- Duration
- About 6.5 hours
- Objective
- Prepare the 3B power channel for a new ISS Roll-Out Solar Array (iROSA), the seventh
- Background
- Born in Minneapolis; Ukrainian and Indian immigrant parents; family roots in Kerala; physician and mechanical engineer selected by NASA in 2021
- Upcoming
- Two more US spacewalks scheduled this month
