NASA astronauts Anil Menon and Jessica Meir successfully completed a spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) to carry out critical upgrades to the orbital laboratory's power system. The six-hour and 27-minute mission involved installing modification hardware that will support the future addition of new roll-out solar arrays, helping improve the station's electricity supply and extend its operational capabilities. The spacewalk began at 8:33 am EDT on Thursday, which was 6:03 pm Indian Standard Time, and concluded at 3:00 pm EDT, or 12:30 am IST on Friday.

According to reports, the activity marked the 281st spacewalk conducted in support of the International Space Station programme. For Jessica Meir, it was her sixth spacewalk, while for Anil Menon, it marked his first mission outside the station during a spacewalk. During the operation, Menon and Meir exited the Quest airlock and worked on the exterior structure of the ISS. Their primary objective was to install mounting hardware on the station's 3B power channel located on the Starboard 6 truss segment. The work required careful coordination and precision as the astronauts operated in the harsh environment of space while connected to the station through their spacesuits and safety equipment.

The hardware installation is an important step towards deploying additional roll-out solar arrays known as ISS Roll-Out Solar Arrays (IROSA). These upgraded solar panels are designed to increase the station's available power capacity, allowing it to continue supporting scientific experiments, life-support systems and other essential operations. NASA said the upgrades would help provide additional power for the orbiting laboratory while supporting its future requirements. "This work will enable the future installation of roll-out solar arrays, called IROSA, to provide additional power for the orbiting laboratory, supporting critical systems and the safe, controlled deorbit of the space station," NASA said in a statement.

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The agency has been gradually upgrading the ISS power infrastructure to ensure the station remains capable of supporting astronauts and research activities during its remaining operational years. The International Space Station relies on a complex power system that uses large solar arrays to generate electricity from sunlight. Over time, improvements and replacements have become necessary to maintain efficiency as the station continues its long-term mission in low Earth orbit. The IROSA upgrades are part of NASA's broader efforts to modernise the station's energy capabilities. For Menon, the successful spacewalk represents a significant milestone in his astronaut career.

His participation highlights the growing role of international and diverse astronaut teams involved in maintaining and advancing human spaceflight operations. Meir, who has previous experience conducting spacewalks, brought additional expertise to the mission as the pair completed the demanding external maintenance task. The successful operation demonstrates the continued importance of astronaut-led maintenance missions aboard the ISS. As the station moves toward its planned future transition, upgrades such as the IROSA installation will help maintain safe operations and support scientific research conducted in orbit. The mission also adds another achievement to the decades-long history of human activity and exploration aboard the International Space Station.

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