Indian-origin astronaut completes major spacewalk in nearly 7 hours
Indian-origin Nasa astronaut Anil Menon has completed a major spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS), spending nearly seven hours in space alongside Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk to install the final solar array on the orbiting laboratory.
The two astronauts completed the spacewalk after six hours and 59 minutes on November 6, ending the operation at 2:05 am IST, marking the completion of a major upgrade to the space station's power generation system.
The mission, named US Spacewalk 101, was Menon's fifth spacewalk and Kutryk's second. It was also the 286th spacewalk conducted in support of the space station's construction, maintenance and upgrades. An image of the new solar array installed on the ISS during the spacewalk. (Photo: Nasa) ISS GETS ITS POWER UPGRADE
During the spacewalk, Menon and Kutryk installed and deployed the eighth and final International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Array (IROSA) on the station's right-side supporting structure.
These arrays are designed to unfold in space, spreading out like a large sheet to capture sunlight and convert it into electricity. This power is essential for running the station's equipment, experiments, lighting and other systems..@Astro_Kutryk and @Astro_Anil completed their spacewalk at 3:35 p.m. EST today after installing the eighth and final roll-out solar array. This completes the upgrade of the International Space Station's power generation system. More... https://t.co/JNTjNfzFld https://t.co/ysjIrvK47Iβ International Space Station (@Space_Station) November 5, 2026With the installation complete, the eight additional arrays are expected to increase the space station's electricity-generating capacity from 160 kilowatts to approximately 215 kilowatts.
The upgrade work began in February 2021. Since then, astronauts have carried out 18 spacewalks to prepare the necessary equipment and install all eight arrays.WHO IS ANIL MENON?
Menon, who was born and raised in Minneapolis to Indian and Ukrainian immigrant parents, was selected by Nasa in 2021 and reported for astronaut training in January 2022. An image of Anil Menon and Joshua Kutryk in their spacesuits before the spacewalk. (Photo: Nasa)
A doctor and mechanical engineer by training, he previously served as SpaceX's first flight surgeon, helping prepare the company's first astronauts for spaceflight. He also worked as a Nasa crew flight surgeon, supporting astronauts aboard the space station.
Menon travelled to the ISS aboard Russia's Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft on July 14, 2026, for an approximately eight-month mission.
His latest spacewalk adds another milestone to his ongoing mission, while completing an important upgrade to the space station that will support its operations in the years ahead.- Ends
