NASA has outlined a set of three upcoming U.S. spacewalks planned for August that aim to enhance the International Space Station's power systems, upgrade communication hardware, and lay groundwork for future station activities. These spacewalks will see astronauts exiting the station to conduct vital maintenance and installation work in the harsh environment of space.
This series of extravehicular activities represents an important milestone in the ongoing upkeep and evolution of the International Space Station (ISS). The missions are designed to improve station functionality and support long-term goals, including the controlled deorbit of the ISS at the conclusion of its service life.
The scheduled spacewalks on August 6, 13, and 25 will be the 281st, 282nd, and 283rd spacewalks supporting the assembly, upkeep, and modernization of the ISS.
Key Operations Planned for ISS Exterior
According to NASA, astronauts will perform these critical spacewalks to complete tasks that can’t be done from inside the station. Mission control will closely monitor these activities and provide live updates to audiences worldwide.
The initial spacewalk on Thursday, August 6 will have NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Anil Menon exiting via the Quest airlock to install components associated with the station’s electrical system.
They will adjust the station’s 3B power channel to prepare for the upcoming installation of a new International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Array (IROSA), which will be the seventh such array delivered. This upgrade will increase the ISS’s electricity supply to support key operations onboard.
This spacewalk is anticipated to last roughly six and a half hours, starting with live coverage at 7 a.m. EDT and the actual excursion commencing at 8:35 a.m. EDT.
For Meir, this will be her sixth spacewalk, while it will mark Menon's first. Meir will don a spacesuit featuring red stripes as crew member 1, and Menon will wear an unadorned suit as crew member 2.
This August, our astronauts will be stepping outside the @Space_Station three times! NASA experts will discuss our upcoming spacewalks at 2pm ET (1800 UTC) on July 30. Learn how to tune in: https://t.co/7CyQqEN9bF pic.twitter.com/Dxa5zMAxzh
— NASA (@NASA) July 27, 2026
Enhancing Power and Communication Systems During Spacewalks
The second spacewalk, termed U.S. spacewalk 97, will take place on Thursday, August 13. The focus will be on replacing a vital communication antenna aboard the station.
Astronauts are set to swap out the Space-to-Ground antenna, which is crucial for enabling the ISS’s data and high-speed voice links with the Mission Control Center in Houston.
This antenna is essential for seamless communication between crew members in space and ground teams. Its replacement forms part of ongoing efforts to maintain the station’s complex external communication infrastructure, now over two decades old.
NASA has not yet disclosed which astronauts will perform this spacewalk or provided a detailed schedule. Additional information about the crew, timeline, and objectives will be shared closer to the operation.
The third spacewalk will build upon past maintenance efforts by addressing further infrastructure upgrades essential for the station’s ongoing functionality.
Final Spacewalk Sets Stage for ISS's Future Functionality
Scheduled for Tuesday, August 25, U.S. spacewalk 98 aims at connecting cables for power channels and data relay systems vital for the ISS’s sustained operation.
The astronauts will also replace a navigation aid situated on the forward port of the Harmony module. This equipment supports docking procedures for visiting spacecraft, remaining a key component of the station’s operational network for incoming missions.
This work coincides with preparations related to the ISS’s eventual controlled deorbit process, which NASA is planning in collaboration with international partners as the station approaches the final stages of its service life.
Since 2000, the ISS has continuously hosted astronauts, serving as a platform for research, technological innovation, and global cooperation. Routine upkeep of its external components is vital to prolonging its operational life while planning for its planned retirement.
NASA’s Preview Event Offers Insights Into Upcoming Spacewalks
On Thursday, July 30, at 2 p.m. EDT, NASA will hold a news conference at the Johnson Space Center in Houston to outline details about this series of spacewalks.
Key speakers include Bill Spetch, deputy manager of the Commercial, Low Earth Orbit Program, along with spacewalk flight directors Chris Dobbins and Chloe Mehring.
The briefing and live coverage of the spacewalks will be accessible through NASA’s digital channels, enabling audiences to watch the astronauts’ activities outside the station in real time.
Each spacewalk demands meticulous preparation—from astronaut training and equipment validation to detailed mission rehearsals and coordination between the crew and ground teams. These August missions illustrate the intricate nature of operating a sophisticated orbital laboratory hundreds of kilometers above Earth.
As the ISS transitions toward the later phases of its mission, these external enhancements will help sustain its systems while supporting NASA’s broader shift toward commercial space stations and emerging low Earth orbit operations.
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