Nasa astronauts complete 6.5-hour spacewalk to install ISS hardware

Nasa astronauts Anil Menon and Jessica Meir completed a 6.5-hour spacewalk outside the International Space Station on August 6, 2026. The pair ventured out to install mounting hardware on the station's exterior.

The hardware is intended to prepare the station’s 3B power channel for the future installation of new roll-out solar arrays. This upgrade will enhance the ISS's power generation capacity, which is critical for ongoing research and operations.

The spacewalk directly supports the long-term sustainability of the station. The new solar arrays are part of a broader effort to modernize the ISS's power system, ensuring it can continue to support scientific experiments and international collaboration in low Earth orbit.

Anil Menon and Jessica Meir are both experienced Nasa astronauts. The spacewalk began and ended on August 6, 2026, and lasted exactly 6.5 hours. The work focused on the 3B power channel, one of several that distribute electricity across the station.

The ISS has been continuously occupied since November 2000 and relies on solar arrays for power. Over time, the original arrays have degraded, prompting Nasa to plan the installation of new roll-out solar arrays, known as iROSA, to boost power output.

With the mounting hardware now in place, future spacewalks will deliver and install the new solar arrays themselves. Nasa has not announced a specific date for the next installation, but the successful completion of this preparatory work marks a key step in the station's ongoing maintenance and upgrade schedule.