Indian-origin astronaut Anil Menon to step out of Space Station today

Indian-origin Nasa astronaut Anil Menon is set to venture outside the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday, November 5, for a spacewalk that will complete a major upgrade to the orbiting laboratory's power supply.Menon will join Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk for US Spacewalk 101, a roughly seven-hour operation to install the station's eighth and final roll-out solar array.The spacewalk is scheduled to begin at 7 pm IST, with Nasa's live coverage starting at 5:30 pm IST.One of the most crucial parts of the operation will see Menon riding the station's giant robotic arm while carrying the folded solar array to its installation site. An image of an astronaut hanging outside the ISS during a spacewalk. (Photo: X/@astro_anil) WHAT IS A SPACEWALK AND WHAT WILL MENON DO?A spacewalk, officially called an extravehicular activity, is when astronauts leave the safety of their spacecraft or space station to carry out repairs, installations or other work in the vacuum of space.They wear specially designed spacesuits that provide oxygen, maintain pressure and protect them from extreme temperatures. During Thursday's operation, Menon and Kutryk will install an International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Array (IROSA) on the station's 3B power channel, located on its starboard-side structure.The folded array will be transported using Canadarm2, the station's robotic arm.Menon will initially ride the arm while carrying the array before the astronauts work together to attach and deploy it. An image of Anil Menon working outside the ISS during a previous spacewalk. (Photo: X/@astro_anil) AFTER PREVIOUS SPACEWALKSThe operation follows another spacewalk operation, lasting 7 hours and 11 minutes, by the same duo on October 29, when they installed the seventh roll-out solar array on the station's 2A power channel.The two spacewalks are part of a power upgrade programme that began in June 2021.The station's original solar panels have been exposed to the harsh conditions of space for more than two decades and need additional support.With the eighth array installed, all eight roll-out arrays will be in place. Together, they are expected to increase the station's available power by up to 30%, raising its electricity generation capacity from 160 kilowatts to approximately 215 kilowatts.Tune in tomorrow for installment 7 of 8 roll out solar arrays. Last week, we installed this one and saw a greater than 40% increase in power on that channel. Teams across @NASA are spending the day preparing for tomorrow’s spacewalk. https://t.co/0P8wuIOKZQ— Anil Menon (@astro_anil) November 4, 2026The number and name US Spacewalk 101 refers to Nasa's sequence of US spacewalks conducted from the International Space Station, not the total number of spacewalks ever performed in space.The October 29 operation was US Spacewalk 100, while Thursday's will be number 101.It will also be the 286th spacewalk supporting the station's assembly, maintenance and upgrades, marking another milestone in the laboratory's continuing operations.- Ends