NASA astronauts will conduct two spacewalks outside the International Space Station in January.
The first spacewalk is scheduled to begin at midnight AEDT on Friday, Jan. 9, and is expected to last about six hours and 30 minutes.
During U.S. spacewalk 94, NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman will exit the station’s Quest airlock to prepare the 2A power channel for the future installation of International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays. Once installed, the arrays will provide additional power for the orbital laboratory and support critical systems required for its safe and controlled deorbit.
Fincke will serve as spacewalk crew member one, wearing a spacesuit with red stripes, while Cardman will serve as crew member two in an unmarked suit. The spacewalk will be Cardman’s first and Fincke’s 10th, tying him for the most spacewalks conducted by a NASA astronaut.
The second spacewalk is scheduled to begin at 11:10 p.m. AEDT on Thursday, Jan. 15, and is expected to last about six hours and 30 minutes.
During U.S. spacewalk 95, two NASA astronauts will replace a high-definition camera on camera port three, install a new navigational aid known as a planar reflector on the forward port of the Harmony module, and relocate an early ammonia servicer jumper, along with other jumper assemblies on the station’s S6 and S4 truss segments.
NASA will announce which astronauts are assigned to the second spacewalk following completion of the Jan. 9 AEDT excursion.
The two spacewalks will be the 278th and 279th conducted in support of International Space Station assembly, maintenance, and upgrades. They will also be the first spacewalks of 2026 aboard the station and the first performed by the Expedition 74 crew.
