NASA will provide coverage as astronauts venture outside the International Space Station during three spacewalks in August to continue upgrading solar panels, replacing a communications antenna, and connecting power and data cables in support of space station operations.

Experts will preview the upcoming spacewalks during a press conference at 2 p.m. EDT, Thursday, July 30, from NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

NASA will broadcast these events across a variety of platforms. Learn where to watch online:

NASA Live

NASA participants at the press conference include:

• Bill Spetch, deputy director of the Commercial Low Earth Orbit Program
• Chris Dobbins, spacewalk flight director
• Chloe Mehring, spacewalk flight director

US-based media interested in attending in person should contact Johnson’s newsroom no later than 3 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29 at jsccommu@mail.nasa.gov. Media joining by phone must request dial-in details by the same deadline. To ask a question, media must call no later than 15 minutes before the start of the press conference.

Thursday August 6

NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Anil Menon will emerge from the Quest airlock to install hardware that will modify the station’s 3B power channel and prepare it for the future installation of a deployable solar array on the International Space Station (IROSA). The solar panel, scheduled for delivery later this year, will be the seventh IROSA and will provide additional power to support the station’s critical operations, including its safe and controlled deorbit.

Watch live NASA coverage of the 96th US spacewalk beginning at 6:30 am. The spacewalk is expected to begin at 8 a.m. and last approximately six and a half hours.

This spacewalk will be Meir’s sixth and Menon’s first. Meir will be member 1 of the spacewalk crew and will wear a red-striped suit. Menon will act as Crew Member 2 and will wear an unmarked suit.

Thursday August 13

During the 97th US spacewalk, two astronauts will replace a space-to-ground antenna on the orbital complex. The antenna is a critical communications system that NASA uses to transmit high-speed data and communications between the Mission Control Center in Houston and the space station.

Tuesday August 25

The 98 members of the US spacewalk crew will connect power channel cables and data transmission systems as part of ongoing maintenance, including preparations for future deorbiting of the space station. Astronauts will also replace a navigation aid used for docking spacecraft in the forward port of the Harmony module.

NASA will share additional details about the 97th and 98th U.S. spacewalks, including timing, assigned crew members, and coverage information, closer to each operation.

The spacewalks will be the 281st, 282nd and 283rd conducted in support of space station assembly, maintenance and upgrades.

For more information about the International Space Station’s research, operations and crews, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/station

-end-

Joshua Finch/Jimi Russell
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov / james.j.russell@nasa.gov

Sandra Jones/Anna Schneider
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
sandra.p.jones@nasa.gov / anna.c.schneider@nasa.gov