NASA astronauts Anil Menon and Jessica Meir began a spacewalk today to install power system hardware outside the International Space Station [1].
This mission is critical for the station's longevity, as it modifies the 3B power channel to support the future installation of a new roll-out solar array [1, 2]. These upgrades ensure the orbital laboratory maintains sufficient electrical power during its final operational years [2].
The spacewalk commenced at approximately 8:35 a.m. EDT [1, 3]. The mission is expected to last between six and a half [1] and seven hours [4].
For Anil Menon, this marks his first U.S. spacewalk [1]. Jessica Meir is an experienced veteran of extravehicular activity; this outing represents her sixth overall spacewalk [1] and her third of 2026 [3].
The pair is tasked with preparing the station's exterior for the next phase of the solar-array upgrade program [1, 2]. This process involves installing specific hardware that allows the station to integrate more efficient power-generation technology, a necessity as the aging infrastructure of the ISS requires modernization to sustain scientific research [2].
NASA coordinates these complex maneuvers from ground control, monitoring the astronauts' oxygen levels and tool placement in real time [1]. The installation of the 3B channel hardware is a prerequisite for the roll-out solar arrays, which provide a more compact and efficient way to capture energy from the sun than the original rigid panels [1].
“Anil Menon and Jessica Meir began a spacewalk today to install power system hardware.”
The transition to roll-out solar arrays represents a shift toward more efficient, scalable power technology for the ISS. By modifying the 3B power channel, NASA is extending the functional life of the station's electrical grid, ensuring that critical life-support and research systems remain operational as the facility ages.
