The crew of the International Space Station has successfully installed the seventh of eight new-generation solar arrays. NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk spent 7 hours and 11 minutes on the spacewalk to secure the hardware to the station's left truss. The array deployed automatically in 10 minutes once the bolts were released.
This installation is part of an energy system upgrade program that began in June 2021. A final spacewalk is scheduled for November 5, when the eighth array will be mounted on the right side of the truss. According to NASA, the completion of this project will increase the station's total power generation capacity from 160 kW to 215 kW.
Following the spacewalk, the crew resumed their scientific research schedule. Activities included studying the effects of microgravity on cell division in green algae and tobacco cells, as well as testing plant disease resistance using Arabidopsis thaliana. These experiments aim to support future agricultural development for missions to the Moon and Mars.
Other crew members focused on maintenance and human performance studies. This included testing the E4D compact exercise bike, researching high-purity semiconductor crystal growth, and evaluating virtual reality tools for balance adaptation. Additionally, the crew explored AI-driven systems to improve operational efficiency and communication on board.
