According to NASA, the medical issue was identified on Wednesday afternoon. The affected crew member is stable, but the agency has not disclosed the astronaut’s identity or the nature of the condition, citing medical privacy. A revised date for the spacewalk will be announced after further assessment.
The postponed mission was to be carried out by NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman. The spacewalk was expected to last about six and a half hours, beginning at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time, and was aimed at critical maintenance work on the station’s power systems. The astronauts were scheduled to prepare the ISS’s 2A power channel for the installation of new roll-out solar arrays, known as iROSAs, which are designed to boost the station’s power generation capacity.
The new solar arrays are a key part of NASA’s long-term plan to support continued ISS operations and ensure a controlled and safe deorbit of the station, currently targeted for the early 2030s. During the spacewalk, the crew also planned to collect microbial samples near the Quest airlock to study how contamination behaves in the space environment.
The delay is particularly notable for Cardman, for whom the mission would have marked her first-ever spacewalk. For Fincke, a veteran astronaut, it would have been his 10th extravehicular activity.
NASA briefly suspended its live broadcast of ISS operations before announcing the postponement, reflecting caution as flight surgeons and mission managers reviewed the situation. In a subsequent statement, the agency said it is evaluating all available options, including potential adjustments to crew timelines if required.
“The matter involved a single crew member who is stable,” NASA said. “Safely conducting our missions is our highest priority, and we are actively evaluating all options.”
The postponement also affects the first of two spacewalks planned for January. A second spacewalk, scheduled for January 15, includes tasks such as replacing external cameras, installing navigation aids, and enhancing backup fluid systems. NASA has not yet indicated whether that mission will proceed as planned.
Medical issues in orbit are uncommon but treated with exceptional caution due to the unique stresses of microgravity, which can alter fluid distribution in the body and complicate diagnosis and treatment. With multiple cargo missions also slated for later this month, NASA faces a tight operational schedule but maintains that mission safety will not be compromised.
Further updates are expected within the next 24 hours.
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