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Anil Menon spacewalk: NASA to preview the last two ISS solar array installs on 20 October

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NASA will hold a news conference on 20 October 2026 to preview the next Anil Menon spacewalk, part of US spacewalks 100 and 101 at the International Space Station. NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk will install the station’s last two roll-out solar arrays, the agency said on 14 October.

Anil Menon spacewalk: Anil Menon during his spacewalk on 6 August 2026
Anil Menon during his spacewalk on 6 August 2026 Photo: NASA (public domain).

Anil Menon spacewalk plan: spacewalk 100 and 101

On spacewalk 100, the pair will leave the Quest airlock to install and deploy the seventh ISS Roll-Out Solar Array (IROSA) on the 2A power channel. On spacewalk 101 they will fit the eighth and final array on the 3B channel. NASA said the eight arrays together raise available power by up to 30 per cent, from 160 kilowatts to about 215 kilowatts, including power for the station’s safe, controlled deorbit.

Key Facts

  • Briefing: 20 October, 2 pm EDT (11:30 pm IST)
  • Spacewalkers: Anil Menon (NASA), Joshua Kutryk (CSA)
  • Task: install IROSA 7 (2A) and 8 (3B)
  • Power boost: up to 30%, 160 to about 215 kW
  • Station spacewalks: 285th and 286th

Joshua Kutryk and the roll-out solar array cargo

The final arrays flew up on SpaceX’s CRS-35 cargo Dragon, stowed in its unpressurised trunk, NASA’s station blog said, and Menon and Kutryk were on duty monitoring the Dragon during its automated approach. SpacePolicyOnline lists the two spacewalks for 29 October and 5 November, though NASA has not yet confirmed the dates. Menon made his first spacewalk on 6 August with Jessica Meir, fitting hardware on the 3B channel to prepare for these arrays.

International Space Station briefing details

The briefing starts at 2 pm EDT (11:30 pm IST) at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and will stream online. Speakers are Gaurang Patel, operations integration manager in the Low Earth Orbit Program, and Garrett Hehn, spacewalk flight director. US media wishing to attend in person must contact the Johnson newsroom by 19 October. These will be the 285th and 286th spacewalks for station assembly, maintenance and upgrades.

Why It Matters: More power keeps the ageing station running experiments through its final years and supports its planned controlled deorbit.

Also on TrendDesh: CRS-35 launch: SpaceX Dragon carries final ISS solar arrays and 6,300 pounds of cargo · Sophie Adenot back in Europe after record 237-day ISS mission

Source: NASA · NASA station blog · SpacePolicyOnline

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