NASA Astronauts Conduct First Spacewalk of 2026 Today

NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Chris Williams are undertaking the first spacewalk of 2026 today, March 18, marking a critical step in upgrading the International Space Station's (ISS) power system. This extravehicular activity (EVA), designated U.S. spacewalk 94, is focused on preparing the 2A power channel for the future installation of International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays (IROSA). The spacewalk commenced around 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT or 5:30 p.m. IST) and is expected to last approximately six and a half hours. Live coverage of this significant event began at 6:30 a.m. EDT (1030 GMT or 4:00 p.m. IST) and is accessible to a global audience via NASA+, Amazon Prime, and the official NASA YouTube channel. For viewers in India, the coverage started in the late afternoon, with the spacewalk itself beginning in the early evening, providing a convenient viewing window. This spacewalk holds particular importance as it is the first ISS spacewalk of 2026 and the first for Expedition 74. It is also U.S. spacewalk 94 in the station's history. For Jessica Meir, this marks her fourth spacewalk, contributing further to her extensive experience in orbital operations. Chris Williams, on the other hand, is making his debut spacewalk, a monumental career milestone. Meir is distinguishable by her spacesuit with red stripes, while Williams is wearing a plain white suit, allowing mission control and viewers to easily identify them. The mission's primary objective is to install a modification kit and route essential cables on the port side of the station, which are prerequisites for the upcoming IROSA installations. These new solar arrays are crucial for enhancing the ISS's power generation capacity, ensuring continued support for scientific research and operations as the orbiting laboratory approaches the end of its operational life. Notably, today's spacewalk was initially scheduled for January 8, 2026, and was to be conducted by NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman. However, it faced an indefinite postponement due to a medical concern involving a crew member, later identified as Mike Fincke. This incident also led to the early departure of NASA's SpaceX Crew-11 mission in January, about a month ahead of its original schedule. The rescheduling and subsequent execution of this spacewalk highlight NASA's meticulous planning and dedication to astronaut safety and mission success. The International Space Station, a collaborative project involving global space agencies like NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, JAXA, and CSA, has served as a microgravity research platform for over 25 years. Spacewalks are integral to its maintenance, upgrades, and assembly, with these two planned EVAs (including a follow-up spacewalk 95, whose crew and date will be announced later) being the 278th and 279th in the station's history. The successful completion of these tasks is vital for the station's ongoing functionality and future capabilities, impacting global space exploration and scientific advancements.

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