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5d ago

NASA Astronauts Complete Fifth All-Female Spacewalk to Advance ISS Upgrades

Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers successfully relocated a communications antenna and installed hardware for future solar arrays in a 6.5-hour mission.

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A NASA astronaut conducts a spacewalk outside the International Space Station, with the reflection of Earth and station hardware visible on the helmet visor. The astronaut is surrounded by solar panel structures and robotic tools, captured mid-mission in Earth’s orbit.
© NASA

Overview

  • Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers conducted a 6.5-hour extravehicular activity (EVA) on May 1, 2025, completing the fifth all-female spacewalk in NASA's history.
  • The astronauts relocated a communications antenna to improve station operations and installed a mounting bracket for upcoming ISS Roll Out Solar Arrays (IROSA).
  • The new IROSA panels, set to be installed later this year, will boost the International Space Station's power generation capacity by up to 30%.
  • This marked McClain's third spacewalk and Ayers' first, with both astronauts supported by ISS crew members and Earth-based mission specialists.
  • The mission highlights NASA's ongoing efforts to enhance ISS capabilities while advancing gender representation in space exploration.