NASA astronauts Anil Menon, Jessica Meir undertake spacewalk to upgrade space station

NASA astronauts Anil Menon and Jessica Meir successfully completed their spacewalk outside the International Space Station on August 6, 2026, to install components for the deployment of solar arrays. This marked the 281st spacewalk supporting the space station, with it being the first for Menon and the sixth for Meir. The spacewalk began at 8:33 a.m. EDT (6:03 p.m. IST) and concluded at 3 p.m. EDT (12:30 a.m. IST) the following day, spanning six hours and 27 minutes.

Their main task involved installing mounting hardware on the station's 3B power channel, located on the Starboard 6 truss segment. This work would pave the way for the future installation of roll-out solar arrays, providing additional power for the orbital laboratory and supporting critical systems and the safe deorbit of the space station.

With six IROSA assemblies deployed since 2021, only two remain awaiting delivery later this year. Menon was positioned atop an articulating portable foot restraint to maintain a stable angle while working on the truss. During the spacewalk, Meir noted the moon's visibility to Menon, sparking a lighthearted exchange between the two.

This spacewalk represented the first of three for the Expedition 75 crew this month, with subsequent missions scheduled for August 13 and August 25. The subsequent spacewalks would involve replacing a Space-to-Ground antenna, connecting power channels and data relay systems, and replacing a navigational aid used for spacecraft docking on the Harmony module's forward port.