After a gap of several months, NASA is preparing for its first spacewalk of 2026, marking the return of astronauts stepping outside the International Space Station. The mission, scheduled for today, will involve two American astronauts carrying out operations in space.
This will also be the first US-only spacewalk since May 2025.
The ISS has served as a home for astronauts from around the world for more than 25 years. It functions as a research platform in microgravity and has also supported private commercial missions.
The station is operated through a global partnership that includes NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, JAXA, and CSA. Over 280 space travelers from 26 countries have visited the ISS so far.
The upcoming mission is the first spacewalk of 2026 and follows the last one conducted by Russian astronauts on October 28, 2025. It is designated as US spacewalk 94 and will be the 278th spacewalk in ISS history.
Astronauts Jessica Meir and Chris Williams will spend around 6.5 hours outside the station. Their task is to prepare for future solar array installations.
The spacewalk will be streamed live on NASA+, YouTube, and NASA’s X account. Coverage will begin at 6:30 am ET (5:00 pm IST).
The spacewalk is expected to begin at around 6:30 pm IST when the astronauts exit the Quest airlock. Meir will wear a suit with red stripes, while Williams will wear a plain white suit, helping viewers identify them during the live broadcast.
This mission follows a postponed attempt in January, when two NASA astronauts were scheduled for a spacewalk but had to cancel it due to a “medical concern with a crew member.”
It was later confirmed that astronaut Mike Fincke experienced the health issue that led to the cancellation.
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