Indian-origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon is set to achieve a major milestone in his space career on Thursday as he prepares for his first-ever spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS), joining veteran astronaut Jessica Meir on a mission to strengthen the orbiting laboratory's power system.
The spacewalk, officially known as an Extravehicular Activity (EVA). The operation is expected to last around six-and-a-half hours.
Mission to prepare ISS for next-generation solar panels
Menon and Meir will focus on upgrading the ISS power infrastructure by installing new hardware on the station's 3B power channel. The work is designed to support the installation of another International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Array (IROSA) later this year.
The upcoming solar array will become the seventh IROSA mounted on the station. According to NASA, the additional panel will enhance the ISS's power generation capability, ensuring reliable electricity for scientific experiments, onboard systems and future operations, including preparations for the station's eventual controlled de-orbit.
A milestone moment for Anil Menon
While Jessica Meir will be undertaking her sixth spacewalk, the mission marks Anil Menon's debut outside the International Space Station, making it a significant career milestone for the physician, engineer and NASA astronaut.
Menon joined NASA's astronaut corps in 2021 after serving as SpaceX's first flight surgeon. With family roots in Kerala, he has emerged as one of the prominent Indian-origin faces in the US space programme.
Ahead of the mission, Menon shared his excitement on social media.
"Getting ready for a spacewalk with two of my favorite people! Tune in tomorrow," he posted on X.
