NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) are scheduled to conduct a major spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, as astronauts continue work to replace a space-to-ground communications antenna.
NASA astronaut Anil Menon and ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot will venture outside the station to complete the antenna replacement work that began during their August 18 spacewalk. During that earlier operation, the astronauts successfully removed the failed antenna but could not install its replacement after electrical connections and bolts took longer than expected to disconnect.
According to NASA, Menon will use the Canadarm2 robotic arm to retrieve the spare antenna, which Adenot will release from an external platform. The astronauts will then install the replacement on the station's Z1 truss above the Unity module and connect the electrical and data lines required to restore the high-speed communications system.
If sufficient time remains, the astronauts may also replace a retroreflector on the forward port of the Harmony module. The device helps provide navigation data for visiting spacecraft.
Spacewalk Timing
NASA's live coverage of the August 25 spacewalk is scheduled to begin at 7:00 a.m. EDT, while the spacewalk itself is expected to begin at approximately 8:35 a.m. EDT and last around six and a half hours.
For viewers in India, the NASA coverage will begin in the late afternoon in IST, with the spacewalk itself beginning in the evening. Exact viewing times can vary slightly depending on the operational timeline.
The operation is part of ongoing maintenance and upgrades aboard the ISS. NASA has also outlined additional spacewalk work for early September, although the need for that operation could depend on how much work is completed during the August 25 activity.
Why the Antenna Matters
The antenna being replaced is part of the station's communications infrastructure, providing high-data-rate links between the ISS and NASA's communications relay network. NASA said the station currently has another fully functional space-to-ground antenna, but restoring redundancy remains important for reliable station operations.
The August 25 operation will also mark another milestone for Adenot, who became the first French woman to conduct a spacewalk during the August 18 mission.
NASA will provide live coverage of the spacewalk through its official streaming platforms.
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