MXNASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Anil Menon began a six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) to prepare for the installation of new deployable solar panels. The panels are expected to be installed by late 2026 and will provide additional power to support critical operations at the station, including its controlled deorbit. This was Meir’s sixth spacewalk and Menon’s first, with Menon having spent just 22 days in space. The new solar panels differ from traditional systems because they do not require motors to deploy, they use stored potential energy in their composite materials to fully extend to up to 19 meters in length within approximately six minutes. The ISS has planned two more maintenance spacewalks in August.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a scientific and technical activity involving NASA astronauts preparing solar panels for the ISS. There is no political framing, controversy, or ideological emphasis present. The content focuses purely on the technical aspects of the mission and does not take a stance or favor
