U.S. Spacewalk Preview News Conference (Monday, March 16)

Why It Matters

The solar‑array upgrades will increase the ISS’s power margin, enabling more scientific payloads and extending the station’s service life, while showcasing EVA capabilities essential for future lunar and Martian habitats.

Key Takeaways

• NASA plans two EVAs in March to upgrade ISS solar arrays.
• EVA 94 will install Alpha power channel modification kit.
• Astronauts Meir and Williams will test microbes and adjust torque.
• EVA 95 prepares Bravo channel for future rollout solar array.
• Busy ISS schedule includes multiple cargo departures and upcoming arrivals.

Summary

The news conference announced two upcoming extravehicular activities (EVAs) slated for March 18 and later, aimed at upgrading the International Space Station’s power infrastructure with new rollout solar arrays. NASA’s operations integration manager Bill Speck highlighted that these will be the 278th and 279th assembly‑related spacewalks, marking the first EVAs of Expedition 74 and the first of 2026.

EVA 94 will see veteran astronaut Jessica Meir, on her fourth spacewalk, paired with rookie Chris Williams. Their tasks include installing a modification kit on the Alpha power channel, installing a DC jumper for redundancy, adjusting torque on several bolts to enable future robotic operations, and swabbing exterior surfaces for microbial sampling. EVA 95, led by flight director Ranak, will focus on the Bravo power channel, performing similar hardware installations, torque resets, and preparing a pump module to ready the site for the eventual rollout of the new solar array.

Bill Speck noted the broader context: recent cargo departures—including SpaceX‑33, HTV‑1, and Progress 92—have cleared docking ports, while upcoming launches of Progress 94 and NG 24 will replenish supplies. Flight directors Diana Trujillo and Ranak detailed the choreography, from suit preparation to robotic‑arm assistance, underscoring the precision required for each eight‑hour EVA.

These upgrades will boost the ISS’s power generation capacity, extending its operational life and supporting higher‑energy experiments. The coordinated schedule of EVAs, cargo traffic, and upcoming launches demonstrates NASA’s commitment to maintaining a robust, continuously powered orbital laboratory, a critical platform for both current research and future deep‑space missions.

Original Description

As we prepare for two upcoming spacewalks outside the International Space Station, tune in as we share what we'll be doing and answer questions from media.

Participants include:

- Bill Spetch, operations integration manager, International Space Station Program

- Diana Trujillo, spacewalk flight director, Flight Operations Directorate

- Ronak Dave, spacewalk flight director, Flight Operations Directorate

On Wednesday, March 18, NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Chris Williams will prepare to install a pair of roll-out solar arrays, followed by a second spacewalk on Wednesday, April 1. The crew members for the second spacewalk will be announced after the first spacewalk is complete.

These spacewalks will be the 278th and 279th in support of space station assembly, maintenance and upgrades.

Learn more about the International Space Station: https://nasa.gov/station

Read the latest mission updates from the station: https://nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/

Credit: NASA