Three spacewalks in eight days: the intense rhythm of orbital maintenance

Space · Published 8 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Maintaining the International Space Station requires grueling, high-stakes precision. Recently, NASA astronauts completed their third extravehicular activity in just over a week, installing critical communication infrastructure to guide the next generation of commercial spacecraft toward the station's docking ports.

The recent flurry of activity highlights the complex logistical demands of the International Space Station. From 21 February until 1 March, Flight Engineer Terry Virts and Expedition 42 Commander Barry Wilmore completed three individual EVAs. Their mission focused on the Common Communications for Visiting Vehicles (C2V2) system, which involves installing roughly 400 feet of cable along the station's truss. This hardware is essential for providing rendezvous and navigational data to incoming vehicles, including upcoming U.S. commercial crew ships.

Beyond communications, these excursions serve vital structural and mechanical purposes. Earlier in the same period, on February 21 and February 25, the duo worked to rig cables for new International Docking Adapter ports, which are slated for delivery later this year. The duo also carried out vital upkeep, applying lubricant to the Canadarm2 robotic arm's Canadian-made grappling end.

The workload continues with upcoming preparations for power upgrades. Astronauts Jessica Meir and Anil Menon are scheduled for a six-and-a-half-hour mission, beginning around 8:35 a.m. EDT. This task involves preparing the 3B power channel for the arrival of the seventh International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Array (IROSA). These arrays, also arriving later this year, are critical for station operations and will eventually support a safe, controlled deorbit.

Each mission adds to a massive cumulative effort; this upcoming walk marks the 281st spacewalk dedicated to the assembly, maintenance, and upgrading of the complex. While some astronauts, like Menon, may be performing their first exit, others, like Meir, bring significant experience, marking her sixth mission outside the station.

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