Science & Tech · Space · 52 mins ago
Astronauts install a new solar array on the International Space Station
NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk worked outside the International Space Station on Oct.
29 to install a solar array.
It was Kutryk’s first spacewalk and the first by a Canadian astronaut since 2019.
The station’s original solar panels have lost power over more than two decades in orbit.
The new roll-out array is the seventh of eight planned to help replace that lost power.
Canada’s Canadarm2 robotic arm is helping move the arrays into position.
The completed upgrade is expected to raise the station’s power capacity from 160 to about 215 kilowatts, supporting its operations in its final years.
A second spacewalk is planned for Nov.
5 to install the eighth and final array.
NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk conducted a spacewalk to install and deploy a solar array on the International Space Station.
The Oct. 29 spacewalk was the first of two planned outings to install the station’s seventh and eighth roll-out solar arrays.
The arrays are part of an upgrade intended to raise the station’s power capacity from 160 kilowatts to about 215 kilowatts.
The spacewalk was Kutryk’s first and the first spacewalk by a Canadian astronaut since David Saint-Jacques in 2019.
Canada’s Canadarm2 robotic arm helped move the array into position.
- Who
- NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk.
- What
- They performed a spacewalk to install and deploy an International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Array.
- When
- Oct. 29, 2026.
- Where
- Outside the International Space Station.
- Why
- To upgrade the station’s power supply as its original solar arrays degrade.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The station’s solar-array upgrade campaign began, and the first roll-out array was deployed.
A Falcon 9 launched the cargo carrying the final pair of arrays to the station.
Menon and Kutryk were scheduled to install and unfurl the seventh array during a spacewalk.
A second spacewalk was planned to install the eighth and final array.
- Crew
- Anil Menon and Joshua Kutryk
- Spacewalk date
- Oct. 29, 2026
- Array
- Seventh of eight International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays
- Current power capacity
- 160 kilowatts
- Planned power capacity
- About 215 kilowatts
- Robotic arm
- Canadarm2
5 sources
Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk to perform his first spacewalk
Astronauts step out of the ISS for spacewalk – watch live
Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk to conduct his 1st spacewalk
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ISS astronaut will conduct Canada's 1st spacewalk in 7 years on Oct. 29: Watch it live
What people are saying
I think what it means for Canada is an acknowledgement of the important role that we've been playing as part of this international collaboration
It's ridiculously dangerous, but we're well-prepared
Overall, these roll-out arrays increase our power generation capability up to 30 percent
It's been busy preparing for the upcoming spacewalks
Posts on X
Canada arm 2 as seen from cupola. It’s been busy preparing for the upcoming spacewalks. It moved from this location to get the solar arrays from SpaceX Dragon 35 trunk, then placed it on a mobile transporter on station. It even loosened bolts for us before the space walks next