Astronauts Conduct Spacewalk to Upgrade International Space Station Power Systems
Canadian and American astronauts installed new solar technology during an orbital mission
Photo: NASAIn brief
Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk and NASA astronaut Anil Menon performed a spacewalk on October 29, 2026, to install a new solar array on the International Space Station. The mission aims to boost the station's total power capacity by 30% upon the completion of the final installation.
Spacewalk Operations
On October 29, 2026, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk and NASA astronaut Anil Menon conducted a spacewalk while the International Space Station was positioned 267 miles over the South Atlantic Ocean. During this excursion, the two astronauts successfully installed a new roll-out solar array on the exterior of the space station.
Future Mission Objectives
In addition to the solar array installation, the astronauts completed preparatory tasks for their next scheduled spacewalk, which is set for November 5, 2026. According to NASA, this upcoming mission will involve the installation of the eighth and final roll-out solar array. Once all eight arrays are operational, the station is expected to see an increase in available power of up to 30%.
This story was prepared with AI assistance from the sources listed below and reviewed by our editors.
