Astronauts just gave the International Space Station a powerful upgrade
Two astronauts completed a 7-hour, 11-minute spacewalk to install a new solar array on the International Space Station, bringing NASA one step closer to a major power upgrade. Once the final array is installed on November 5, the station will have up to 30% more available power, supporting critical operations and its eventual controlled deorbit.
Key points
- NASA's Anil Menon and CSA's Joshua Kutryk completed a 7-hour, 11-minute spacewalk outside the International Space Station.
- The pair installed the seventh roll-out solar array on the station's 2A power channel.
- An eighth and final array is set for a Thursday, Nov. 5 spacewalk on the 3B power channel.
NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk completed a 7-hour, 11-minute spacewalk outside the International Space Station, finishing at 3:08 p.m. EDT. The work is part of a major upgrade to the station's power system.
During the spacewalk, the two installed and deployed a new International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Array on the station's 2A electrical power channel. It is the seventh such array added to the station, supplying extra electricity for essential operations, including the station's eventual safe and controlled deorbit.
Preparations for final array
The astronauts also carried out preliminary tasks ahead of another spacewalk scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 5. On that mission, astronauts will install the eighth and final solar array on the station's 3B power channel.
NASA plans to begin live coverage at 6:45 a.m., with viewing details available through the agency.
This is the seventh such array added to the station
— NASA
Expected power increase
Once the last array is in place, the station's solar power expansion will be complete. NASA says the eight new arrays together will raise available power by as much as 30%, from 160 kilowatts to approximately 215 kilowatts.
The completed mission, U.S. spacewalk 100, was Menon's fourth spacewalk and Kutryk's first. It was also the 285th spacewalk supporting the assembly, maintenance and improvement of the station.
