During a 6‑hour spacewalk that began at 7:57 a.m. Eastern Time on 29 October 2026, NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk installed the International Space Station’s seventh roll‑out solar array on the 2A electrical power channel. This maneuver added a new source of power that will help the orbiting laboratory maintain critical operations, including a planned controlled deorbit, according to NASA.
The roll‑out solar array, a compact panel that deploys a large sail‑like structure when pressed against a hinge on the station’s exterior, is one of a series of Independent Roll‑Out Solar Arrays (IROSAs). When fully deployed, each IROSA provides an additional 90 kilowatts of power, a significant boost for a spacecraft that has been operating for over 25 years. The arrangement places the array on the station’s left side, near the forward port of the 20th addition, making it accessible for the astronauts to reach from the zimmermann airlock.
Prior to the installation, the ISS was powered by a mix of photovoltaic panels and the On‑Orbit Power Supply Unit, a backup generator that draws from fuel. The addition of the IROSA strengthens the station’s resilience against power fluctuations caused by eclipse periods and the wear that occurs over time in the harsh space environment. The new array also offers redundancy that can be used to balance the load during high‑energy experiments or when equipment demands increase.
Menon’s fourth EVA and Kutryk’s debut spacewalk underscore the expertise required to handle such delicate hardware. During the EVA, the pair maneuvered for more than six and a half hours, working with cable harnesses and connectors that were all stored on the mobile transport system inside the station before being ferried out into space. The process included extending the panel, securing it with a locking mechanism, and connecting the power rails to the internal bus.
NASA identified the installation as critical for a future controlled deorbit that will bring the ISS down safely over a remote ocean region. The power increase will allow the station’s orbital control system to execute the deorbit burn when the station reaches the end of its operating life. Without sufficient power, the station would be unable to maintain attitude control for the several hours required during the final re‑entry trajectory.
Both agencies highlighted the importance of precise timing and coordination among the crew, ground control, and the automated station systems. The airlock and tethers were pre‑programmed to restrict the astronauts’ motion, minimizing the risk of injury or damage to equipment. Engineers monitored the deployment in real time from Houston, ensuring that the array extended in the expected manner and that all electrical connections completed successfully.
While the IROSA’s rollout mechanism is a mature technology, every new installation is an opportunity to refine the procedure and reduce wear on the station’s structure. Extracting telemetry data during the EVA has helped engineers evaluate the mechanical stresses involved and will feed into models that predict future reliability for upcoming maintenance epochs.
The 285th spacewalk dedicated to ISS assembly, maintenance, and upgrades illustrates the continuing human presence in low‑Earth orbit. The station’s systems have been evolving for decades, and each EVA is a testament to the ingenuity of the international partnership that sends astronauts to expertly modify and upgrade the orbiting laboratory.
As a direct estimate of the IROSA’s power contribution, the station’s overall generation capacity increased from 90 kilowatts to 180 kilowatts, effectively doubling the output available for scientific instruments, communication arrays, and propulsion systems. This increase will also allow the station to experiment with higher‑power scientific payloads that were previously constrained by energy limits.
In summary, the successful deployment of the roll‑out solar array marks a step toward ensuring the International Space Station remains fully functional until the end of its service life. The partnership between NASA and the Canadian Space Agency continues to demonstrate how international cooperation can sustain long‑term human activity in space.
