{
  "id": 236464,
  "title": "'1 more step': NASA astronauts conduct 6.5-hour spacewalk to prep ISS for solar array upgrade",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/06/1-more-step-nasa-astronauts-conduct-6-5-hour-spacewalk-to-prep-iss",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-06T20:05:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Space.com",
    "slug": "space-com",
    "url": "https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/1-more-step-nasa-astronauts-conduct-6-5-hour-spacewalk-to-prep-iss-for-solar-array-upgrade"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Anil Menon completed a 6.5-hour spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) to prepare it for the installation of new solar arrays. The duo installed the final set of mounting hardware for the eighth power channel, enabling the future addition of a Roll-Out Solar Array (iROSA). This upgrade will increase the station's electricity supply by 20% to 30%, compensating for the degraded power output of the eight original arrays that have exceeded their 15-year design life. Menon and Meir assembled and bolted triangular brackets onto the 3B power channel, located on the far right segment of the station's backbone truss. After securing the modification kit structure, they routed cabling to carry electricity from the future iROSA into the 3B power channel and protected the struts with multi-layer insulation against micrometeoroid strikes. The astronauts also discussed their upcoming missions to the Moon and Mars, emphasizing the importance of the space station's ongoing operations in supporting human exploration beyond low Earth orbit.",
  "summary": "NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Anil Menon completed a 6.5-hour spacewalk on Aug. 6, 2026, to prepare the International Space Station (ISS) for the installation of the final set of mounting hardware for new solar arrays. The astronauts worked on power channel 3B, located on the starboard (S6) segment of the station's backbone truss, to assemble and bolt together triangular brackets that will allow for the future addition of a new ISS Roll-Out Solar Array (iROSA). The installation of the iROSA is expected to increase the station's electricity supply by 20% to 30%, compensating for the degraded power output of the eight original arrays that have exceeded their 15-year design life.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}