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4w ago

NASA Completes Fifth All-Female Spacewalk to Advance ISS Upgrades

Astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers successfully executed a 6.5-hour mission to prepare the station for power and communication enhancements.

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Image
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 spacewalk on May 1, 2025, marking the fifth all-female EVA in NASA's history.
  • The astronauts relocated a communications antenna and installed a mounting bracket to support future solar array installations, boosting ISS power capacity by up to 30%.
  • McClain's glove inspection briefly delayed the start, but Mission Control confirmed it was safe to proceed with the spacewalk.
  • This was McClain's third spacewalk and Ayers' first, showcasing NASA's ongoing commitment to gender representation in space exploration.
  • While primary objectives were achieved, minor deferred tasks will be addressed in upcoming EVAs as part of the ISS maintenance campaign.