ISS Solar Array Upgrade Set for Final Two Spacewalks
NASA's planned October 29 and November 5 spacewalks would add the final two roll-out solar arrays to the International Space Station.
FlyMarshall Newsroom1 min read
Photo: Spaceflight Now
NASA has scheduled astronauts Anil Menon and Joshua Kutryk to install the seventh IROSA on October 29, with a second spacewalk planned for November 5 to add the eighth and final unit. Menon represents NASA, while Kutryk is with the Canadian Space Agency.
Key details
- The October 29 spacewalk is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. EDT.
- The final pair of IROSA units reportedly arrived at the station aboard a SpaceX Cargo Dragon launched by Falcon 9 on October 13, 2026.
- Six IROSA units were in place by June 2023.
- The compact arrays supplement the station’s original solar wings.
- Completion of the eight-unit upgrade is projected to raise available station power from 160 kilowatts to approximately 215 kilowatts.
Completing all eight IROSA units is projected to raise available station power from 160 kilowatts to about 215 kilowatts.
Why it matters
Additional electrical capacity supports the research and systems aboard the orbiting laboratory. The IROSA upgrade also demonstrates how new equipment can extend the capabilities of an existing space platform.
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