NASA Will Preview Upcoming Space Station Spacewalks
The October 20 news conference will detail final solar array upgrades to increase station power by 30%.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Space
Live Poll
Should the federal government continue to invest in upgrading the International Space Station?
NASA has scheduled a news conference for October 20, 2026, at the Johnson Space Center in Houston to discuss two upcoming spacewalks. These missions will mark the 285th and 286th total spacewalks conducted for International Space Station maintenance.
Why it matters
The installation of these final arrays will boost the orbital laboratory’s power capacity to 215 kilowatts, ensuring sufficient energy for critical operations including the station's eventual deorbit.
The two missions will utilize the Quest airlock to install International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays. Once complete, these arrays will increase power capacity from the current 160 kilowatts to approximately 215 kilowatts.
The players
Anil Menon
NASA astronaut assigned to execute the upcoming station assembly and maintenance missions.
Joshua Kutryk
NASA astronaut tasked with performing the station's upcoming solar array installation spacewalks.
NASA
The U.S. government agency responsible for the civil space program, orbital research operations, and station maintenance.
The details
Astronauts Anil Menon and Joshua Kutryk will perform the tasks to deploy the final roll-out arrays. These arrays use flexible composite structures that roll out like a carpet to capture solar energy, replacing or augmenting traditional rigid panels. The upcoming U.S. spacewalks 100 and 101 involve exiting the Quest airlock to physically secure and connect these power units to the station's electrical grid.
Timeline
October 19, 2026: Media credentialing deadline for the news conference.
October 20, 2026: NASA news conference at 2 p.m. EDT in Houston.
October 29, 2026: Scheduled date for U.S. spacewalk 100.
November 5, 2026: Scheduled date for U.S. spacewalk 101.
The Tech Race
These missions represent the completion of the power augmentation upgrade program for the International Space Station. This final stage follows a multi-year effort to replace aging hardware with roll-out arrays to ensure the facility remains fully operational for its remaining mission duration.
These upgrades primarily affect the mission life and operational capacity of the International Space Station. The increased electrical load supports the long-term viability of station experiments and critical safety systems before the station is ultimately retired.
The takeaway
The installation of these final arrays marks a critical technical milestone in maintaining the station's power integrity. Observers should monitor the official NASA schedule for potential weather-related delays to the October 29 and November 5 launch windows.
What happens next
The public can track the mission progress via the NASA event live stream link during the scheduled spacewalks on October 29 and November 5.
Further reading
For broader updates on orbital maintenance and station infrastructure, visit Space.
More information
Watch the NASA event live stream link for live coverage of the upcoming missions.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NASA.
Live Poll
Should the federal government continue to invest in upgrading the International Space Station?
