NASA’s Anil Menon Makes His First Spacewalk

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – NASA astronaut Anil Menon carried out his first spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS), joining astronaut Jessica Meir for work related to upcoming solar array installations.

The spacewalk lasted six hours and 27 minutes and was the 281st in support of the space station. It was the first for Menon and the sixth for Meir.

The astronauts installed mounting hardware on the station’s 3B power channel on the Starboard 6 truss segment. The work supports the future installation of additional roll-out solar arrays to increase the station’s power capacity.

They also routed cables that will carry electricity from the new arrays and added insulation to protect components.

NASA said six roll-out solar arrays have been installed since 2021, with two more expected to be delivered later this year.

During the spacewalk, Meir pointed out the Moon to Menon, who responded after spotting it.

The spacewalk is the first of three planned this month for the Expedition 75 crew. A second spacewalk on August 13 will involve replacement of a space-to-ground communications antenna. A third, scheduled for August 25, will focus on power-channel cables and data-relay work, along with replacement of a navigation aid used for spacecraft docking.

NASA said the work is part of ongoing station maintenance and preparations for its future operations.