Two Roscosmos cosmonauts are scheduled to perform a spacewalk outside the International Space Station to install a solar radiation experiment [1].

This mission represents a critical step in ongoing research into how solar radiation affects materials and electronics in low Earth orbit. Maintaining the Zvezda service module ensures the continued functionality of the Russian segment of the station.

Cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev will lead the extravehicular activity (EVA) [1]. The operation is scheduled to begin around 10:15 a.m. EDT, which corresponds to 1415 UTC [2].

The planned duration of the spacewalk is about five hours [3]. During this window, the two [1] crew members will focus their efforts on the Zvezda service module. Their primary objective is the installation of the solar-radiation experiment, which will monitor the impact of stellar activity on the station's exterior.

In addition to the installation, the cosmonauts will remove other science hardware from the module [1]. This process of retrieving and relocating equipment is a standard part of ISS research operations, allowing for the rotation of experiments, and the collection of data from long-term exposures.

As part of their duties, the crew may also photograph the Progress 94 cargo spacecraft [1]. These images help mission control assess the condition of the vehicle and its docking interface, a vital check for the logistics chain that supplies the station.

The EVA follows a strict timeline to ensure crew safety and maximize the efficiency of the five-hour [3] window. Once the hardware is secured and the old experiments are retrieved, the cosmonauts will return to the pressurized environment of the station [1].

“Two Roscosmos cosmonauts are scheduled to perform a spacewalk outside the International Space Station.”

This EVA highlights the continued reliance on the Zvezda service module for scientific data collection. By cycling out hardware and installing new radiation sensors, Roscosmos is gathering data essential for future long-duration spaceflight, where shielding against solar radiation remains a primary technical hurdle for human exploration.