HOUSTON, Texas (Diya TV)— Indian-American NASA astronaut Anil Menon will take a major step in his spaceflight career on Aug. 6 when he performs his first spacewalk outside the International Space Station. He will work alongside veteran NASA astronaut Jessica Meir during a mission that will help improve the station’s power system. The spacewalk marks another important milestone for Menon, who arrived at the orbiting laboratory earlier this month for an eight-month science mission.
NASA said the astronauts will leave the International Space Station through the Quest airlock during U.S. spacewalk 96. Their primary task involves installing hardware that will prepare the station for a new International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Array, also known as IROSA. The new solar array will arrive later this year and will boost the station’s electrical power for future operations.
The spacewalk will begin after NASA starts live coverage at 7 a.m. EDT on Aug. 6. The astronauts plan to exit the station at 8:35 a.m. EDT. The mission is expected to last about six and a half hours.
Menon will complete his first-ever spacewalk during the mission. Meanwhile, Meir will conduct her sixth spacewalk.
The work will support important upgrades to the station’s 3B power channel. In addition, the installation will prepare the outpost for the seventh IROSA. NASA said the added solar power will strengthen station operations. It will also support future preparations for the International Space Station’s safe and controlled deorbit.
Menon reached the International Space Station on July 14 aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft. He traveled with Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina. Since arriving, he has joined the station’s international crew and started a full schedule of scientific research and technology demonstrations.
During his mission, Menon will study several projects that could benefit future space exploration and life on Earth. For example, he will examine how blood flows in microgravity. He will also support research on semiconductor crystal growth. In addition, he will work with augmented reality-assisted ultrasound technology. Another project involves bioprinting vascular tissue, which could improve medical research and help scientists prepare for future deep-space missions.
Menon trained as a physician and engineer before joining the space agency. Earlier in his career, he worked as a NASA flight surgeon. Later, he became SpaceX’s first flight surgeon and helped build the company’s medical support program for human spaceflight.
NASA selected Menon as an astronaut in 2021. Since then, he has completed years of intensive training for missions aboard the International Space Station.
