The operation, which mission managers officially cleared for execution, is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. EST (1330 GMT).
Completing the Power Upgrade
The installation of the final array on the 3B power channel of the station’s starboard truss structure is the terminal step in a project that began in June 2021. By adding this eighth unit, officials aim to increase the orbiting laboratory’s electricity generation capacity from 160 kilowatts to approximately 215 kilowatts, representing a total boost of about 30%.
The hardware for these arrays was delivered to the station aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, specifically transported in the vehicle’s trunk as part of the SpaceX CRS-35 mission. The “roll-out” designation refers to the array’s ability to unfurl from a compact form once it is installed on the station’s power channels.
Second Spacewalk in One Week
That outing, which lasted 7 hours and 11 minutes, was the 100th U.S. spacewalk conducted from the International Space Station and the first EVA performed by a Canadian astronaut since 2019. The two astronauts will spend approximately seven hours in the vacuum of space for today’s task, largely repeating the installation procedures they executed on the opposite side of the truss structure during their previous outing.
Expedition 75 continues preparing for Thursday's power upgrade spacewalk while conducting microgravity research and swapping payloads in a @SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft. More… https://t.co/z1eoceIuGf pic.twitter.com/JKqR6mQRpl
The mission sequence for today involves Kutryk translating to the starboard truss to meet Menon, who will carry the new solar array while attached to the Canadarm2 robotic arm. Menon will hand the array to Kutryk before detaching from the robotic arm to reach the worksite. Once there, the pair will finish the installation. This power augmentation is considered vital for the station, as modernizing the arrays helps maintain control authority, which planners note is essential to avoid the risks associated with a loss of control during a future controlled deorbit.
Expedition 75 Balances Installation Schedule with Scientific Research
The Expedition 75 crew has balanced the installation schedule with ongoing scientific research. Prior to today’s spacewalk, the crew held a standard readiness conference with mission controllers. During the lead-up to the event, station commander Pyotr Dubrov familiarized himself with the spacewalk activities, while flight engineer Anna Kikina checked payload controller hardware. Flight engineer Sergey Teteryatnikov prepared the radiation detectors that Menon and Kutryk will wear on their suits during the EVA.
Beyond the power upgrade, the crew has been active in microbiology research. Kutryk inspected station water samples for microbial growth and documented the results, while Menon swabbed various station surfaces to collect samples for subsequent incubation and analysis. The station’s current complement includes NASA astronauts Luke Delaney and Jessica Watkins, who arrived at the ISS on October 1 alongside Kutryk and Teteryatnikov via the SpaceX Crew-13 mission. Menon, Dubrov, and Kikina arrived at the orbital outpost in mid-July aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.
Earlier coverage: NASA astronauts complete 100th spacewalk at ISS
Seen through the Japanese module window: The newly installed solar arrays are rollin’ as they provide 45% more power than previously. We are using that power to perform science, manufacture pharmaceuticals, and pave the way to the moon and, eventually, Mars. pic.twitter.com/NdIxcQ7kRj
More on International Space Station
Can confirm. It’s always sunny in space. Yesterday, we completed USOS EVA 100 and installed a new solar array on space station. Over 25 years operating in the harshest environment and using the sun’s energy to do it! Here are a few photos taken on the spacewalk. pic.twitter.com/iuHfk6qycq
To observe our globe whirling by, from atop a perch in the vacuum of space, is to experience beauty and awe and wonder (and vulnerability, too) like never before. pic.twitter.com/vwF2r3PdNi
Some shots taken by @astro_anil during our spacewalk outside the @Space_Station. // Quelques photos prises par Anil pendant notre sortie dans l’espace en dehors de la Station spatiale internationale. pic.twitter.com/ISsJrjyu3G
