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Women Make History on ISS Spacewalk
1 Sep
Summary
- Two female astronauts will conduct a spacewalk outside the ISS.
- This marks the sixth all-female spacewalk in history.
- The spacewalk is part of crucial ISS upgrade initiatives.
On September 1st, the International Space Station (ISS) will host a historic spacewalk featuring NASA astronaut Jessica Meir and the European Space Agency's Sophie Adenot. This marks the sixth time in history that an extra-vehicular activity (EVA) will be conducted solely by women. The spacewalk is scheduled to commence around 8:30 a.m. ET and is expected to last for approximately seven hours.
The mission is a critical component of a series of upgrades aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the ISS, which has been in low-Earth orbit for over 25 years. This particular EVA, designated U.S. spacewalk 99, will be the seventh of 2026 and the sixth this year involving at least one U.S. astronaut.
This event follows recent spacewalks, including one on August 25th involving Anil Menon and Sophie Adenot. For Adenot, this will be her third consecutive spacewalk. Meir, a native of Maine, will be undertaking her seventh spacewalk. This historic spacewalk will be broadcast live by NASA, with coverage beginning at 7 a.m. ET on September 1st, available on NASA+ and other platforms.
During their time in space, Meir and Adenot are tasked with replacing a navigational aid, preparing a particle detector for future enhancements, and installing jumper cables to improve data-relay systems. Their activities will be supported by the Canadarm2 robotic arm, with Meir operating it while Adenot remains tethered.
