NASA Astronauts Begin Space Station Spacewalk to Replace Antenna

On August 18, 2026, NASA astronaut Anil Menon and European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot began a spacewalk outside the International Space Station to replace a critical Space-to-Earth communications antenna. The extravehicular activity started at 08:29 a.m. Eastern Time, with operations expected to last approximately six and a half hours, according to NASA.

The hardware upgrade targets a vital communications link. This infrastructure handles high-speed data transmission between the orbiting laboratory and the Mission Control Center in Houston.

Mission Milestones and Crew Assignments

This deployment marks the second spacewalk for Anil Menon and the first spacewalk for Sophie Adenot. Across the operational history of the complex, this excursion stands as the 282nd spacewalk dedicated to assembly, maintenance, and structural upgrades of the station, as confirmed by NASA records.

International Recognition and Pioneering Achievements

French President Emmanuel Macron publicly congratulated Sophie Adenot on social media after she became the first French woman to perform a spacewalk.

Photo: eluniversal.com

As Macron stated on X, translating the remarks from French, “The hour of the pioneers. By becoming the first French woman to venture into space, Sophie Adenot embodies a French pride as much as a horizon for little girls who dream of infinity. The face of all possibilities.”

Operational Timeline and Execution

Reporting from El Universal corroborated that the extravehicular activity commenced at 08:29 a.m. EDT, matching the timeline provided by space agency officials. The operation spanned well over six hours as the crew worked outside the structural trusses to uncouple the legacy hardware and secure the upgraded transceiver components.