NASA astronauts completed the 100th spacewalk in International Space Station history on Wednesday, October 29, stepping outside the Quest airlock to install advanced solar arrays designed to boost the orbiting laboratory’s power generation capacity by up to 30 percent ahead of its scheduled 2030 retirement.
The 100th Spacewalk and Power Upgrades
NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk spent roughly seven hours outside the orbital outpost installing new Roll-Out Solar Arrays, known as IROSA. VOA News reported that the deployment successfully targeted the station’s core power channels, pushing total electricity output from 160 kilowatts to approximately 215 kilowatts.
The additional power capacity is designed to support ongoing laboratory operations and provide a stable electrical baseline for the station’s eventual controlled deorbit and decommissioning sequence, which NASA and its international partners plan to execute by the end of 2030.
Upcoming Final Panel Installation
Following Wednesday’s milestone, the two astronauts will return to the vacuum of space next week. VOA News noted that the 101st spacewalk is scheduled for November 5, during which the crew will install the eighth and final solar array.
It’s an exciting week for space! Starliner is getting back to flight.Starship achieved an important milestone and is advancing a capability that will matter for the future of space exploration⁰And on Thursday, Crew-13 is taking the next astronauts to the ISS. pic.twitter.com/uWORO65YV0
That final installation will conclude a multi-year infrastructure overhaul aimed at extending the functional lifespan of the aging station. Experts view the consecutive spacewalks as a critical operational bridge, securing reliable power generation for the complex.
| Mission Milestone | Date | Astronauts Involved | Key Objective |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100th Spacewalk | October 29 | Anil Menon (NASA), Joshua Kutryk (CSA) | Install and deploy new IROSA solar arrays |
| 101st Spacewalk | November 5 | Anil Menon (NASA), Joshua Kutryk (CSA) | Install the eighth and final solar array |
