This mission marks a multi-walk sequence; Menon is on his first spacewalk, while Meir is performing her sixth, with the duo working to upgrade solar arrays, replace a Space-to-Ground antenna, and lay cables for power and data.

NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Anil Menon conducted Spacewalk 96 outside the International Space Station to prepare for the installation of the seventh of eight iROSA roll-out solar arrays, aimed at boosting the station’s power generation.

The EVA is part of a broader ISS power-up effort that will culminate with the final iROSA deployment later in 2026.

The spacewalk began around 8:33 a.m. EDT and lasted about 6 hours and 27 minutes, as part of Expedition 75 activities with two more US EVAs planned in August for power and data-relay work and antenna replacement.

NASA will provide live coverage of the spacewalk via the NASA+ app and YouTube, with the operation streamed across multiple platforms at nasa.gov/live.

The mission underlines ongoing upgrades to support extended human presence in low Earth orbit and ties into Artemis-era plans, reflecting decades of ISS operations.

Two additional spacewalks are scheduled for August 13 and August 25 focusing on communications and electronics maintenance, with participating astronauts yet to be announced.

So far, six of eight iROSA assemblies have been deployed since 2021; the 3B power channel was the focus of this EVA, with 2A at left slated for future deployment.

Meir wears a suit with red stripes for identification, while Menon’s suit is unmarked; Meir is a seasoned spacewalker and this is Menon’s first EVA, with assisting crew monitoring from the ground.

The iROSA program augments existing solar arrays to boost power by roughly 20% to 30% when used with the legacy panels.

The August sequence includes Spacewalks 97 and 98 as part of a three-step campaign to upgrade power, communications, and other systems aboard the aging ISS.

Menon arrived at the ISS in mid-July and is set for an eight-month stay conducting experiments and routine station operations.