{
  "id": 2419961,
  "title": "Week Ends With Spacewalk Preps and Space Exercise Research",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/week-ends-with-spacewalk-preps-and-space-exercise-research",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-21T18:24:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "NASA Science",
    "slug": "nasa-science",
    "url": "https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2026/08/21/week-ends-with-spacewalk-preps-and-space-exercise-research/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Friday, astronauts Anil Menon of NASA and Sophie Adenot of the European Space Agency prepared for an upcoming spacewalk to install a high-speed antenna on the International Space Station. They organized the tools they would use, checked their tethers and specialized tool bags, and staged them inside the Quest airlock. Adenot also practiced her spacewalking procedures using 3D animation software.\n\nDuring the spacewalk, Menon and Adenot would be assisted by NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway and Jessica Meir. Hathaway and Meir studied the robotic arm maneuvers necessary to support the spacewalkers. Menon would ride the Canadarm2 to retrieve a spare antenna from an external platform, while Adenot would install it and reconnect the necessary electrical and data links. If time permitted, they would also replace a retroreflector on the Harmony module for improved navigation and tracking.\n\nThe astronauts also dedicated time to studying advanced workout techniques to maintain muscle and bone health in microgravity. Hathaway collected his blood sample for analysis as part of the Muscle Stimulation experiment, while Adenot used the EasyMotion-2 suit to trigger muscle contractions while jogging on the treadmill. Their efforts could lead to improved space exercise and faster muscle recovery upon returning to Earth.\n\nMenon and Meir focused on hardware maintenance, with Menon removing a scientific payload from Kibo's airlock and Meir refilling suit tanks and cooling garments. Roscosmos astronaut Andrey Fedyaev studied the effects of weightlessness on the respiratory system by wearing an acoustic sensor and documenting radiation exposure measurements. Flight engineers Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina uninstalled Earth observation gear, inspected ethernet cables, and inventoried lab hardware.",
  "summary": "The Expedition 75 crew wrapped up the work week getting ready for a spacewalk to finish installing a high-speed antenna on the International Space Station. The orbital residents also explored new space exercise techniques, studied the human respiratory system, and completed an Earth observation session. On Friday, flight engineers Anil Menon of NASA and Sophie […] The post Week Ends With…",
  "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."
}