NASA astronauts Chris Williams and Jessica Meir conducted a spacewalk on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, to replace a malfunctioning wrist joint on the Canadarm2 [1, 2, 3].

The repair is critical because the robotic arm is essential for capturing cargo spacecraft and moving equipment outside the International Space Station (ISS). A failure in the wrist joint, first reported in late May, threatened the station's ability to perform these vital operations [1, 5].

The two astronauts spent between six and a half hours [3] and six hours and 40 minutes [1] working outside the station. This mission marked the fifth spacewalk for Meir and the second for Williams [1]. Their primary objective was to swap the faulty joint to restore full functionality to the arm [2].

The timing of the repair was urgent due to upcoming crew rotations. The launch of Soyuz MS-29, scheduled for July 14, 2026, was contingent on the successful completion of this spacewalk [3]. Without a fully operational Canadarm2, the station's ability to safely manage arriving and departing spacecraft could be compromised.

NASA officials monitored the operation from the ground as the crew navigated the exterior of the ISS. The Canadarm2 serves as the primary tool for station maintenance and the docking of visiting vehicles, making its reliability a prerequisite for continued crew rotations [2, 4].

“The repair is critical because the robotic arm is essential for capturing cargo spacecraft.”

The successful replacement of the Canadarm2 wrist joint ensures that the ISS remains capable of supporting new crew arrivals and cargo deliveries. Because the robotic arm is the primary mechanism for maneuvering heavy equipment and capturing vehicles, any prolonged malfunction would have forced NASA and its partners to delay the Soyuz MS-29 launch or risk an unsafe docking procedure.