Fast Facts
NASA will preview two spacewalks for solar array upgrades on ISS.
The spacewalks will install and complete power system enhancements.
These upgrades will boost station power capacity by 30%.
Events will be streamed online, with media attendance details provided.
NASA to Preview US Spacewalks 100, 101
NASA will hold a news conference on Tuesday, October 20, at 2 p.m. EDT to preview two upcoming spacewalks aimed at completing solar array installation and power improvements for the International Space Station (ISS). The event will be streamed live from NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and is open to media and the public.
The spacewalks, scheduled for late October and early November, will expand the station’s ability to generate electricity by installing new rollout solar arrays. NASA officials will discuss the mission details and answer questions during the conference. Participants include Gaurang Patel, operations integration manager for the Low Earth Orbit Program, and Garrett Hehn, the spacewalk flight director from the Flight Operations Directorate.
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Upcoming Spacewalks and Their Significance
The first spacewalk, scheduled for Thursday, October 29, known as U.S. spacewalk 100, will feature NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk. They will exit through the station’s Quest airlock to install and deploy the seventh International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Array (IROSA) on the 2A electrical power channel. This new solar array will add more power to the station, helping it run smoothly and safely. It will also support future operations, including the station’s controlled deorbit at the end of its mission.
The second spacewalk, planned for Thursday, November 5, is U.S. spacewalk 101. During this event, Menon and Kutryk will install and deploy the eighth and final IROSA on the 3B power channel. Together, these two additional arrays will boost the station’s power capacity by approximately 30%, increasing it from 160 kilowatts to about 215 kilowatts. Completing these upgrades ensures the station can support more experiments, technologies, and crew activities.
The installation of all eight roll-out solar arrays marks a major step in enhancing the ISS’s capabilities. These upgrades improve not only power but also allow the station to operate more efficiently and safely as it continues to serve as a hub for scientific research and international cooperation.
Details about the upcoming spacewalks and additional coverage will be shared closer to the dates through NASA’s web pages and space station updates. These events are part of the ongoing effort to maintain and improve the station’s systems, supporting space exploration and international collaboration for years to come.
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