NASA astronauts conduct spacewalk to upgrade ISS solar panels

The spacewalk lasted seven hours as a pair of American astronauts worked to upgrade solar panels in the vacuum of space.

WASHINGTON — A pair of astronauts aboard the International Space Station stepped out into the void Wednesday, exiting the station for a spacewalk to conduct upgrades on a solar panel array. 

Jessica Meir and Chris Williams took part in the approximately seven-hour and two-minute spacewalk, wrapping up at 3:54 p.m. EDT, according to NASA. 

It was Meir’s fourth spacewalk and the first for Williams. 

According to the space agency, the pair completed their primary objectives, including installing a solar array modification kit to upgrade one of the solar arrays that power the space station. 

Meir is a returning astronaut who rejoined the ISS crew last month after a health concern among the previous crew led to an unexpected and early return to Earth for four astronauts. Williams was the only American, along with two Russian astronauts, to keep the station running with a skeleton crew. 

January’s medical evacuation was NASA’s first in 65 years of human spaceflight. One of four astronauts launched by SpaceX last summer suffered what officials described as a serious health issue, prompting their hasty return. 

With only three people aboard, NASA was forced to pause spacewalks and revise research plans. Now, with Meir and another three astronauts back after hitching a ride aboard a SpaceX capsule, missions outside the station can resume. 

Williams is a physicist focusing on deep-space telescopes aimed at discovering the origins of the universe. He blasted off to the ISS on Nov. 27, 2025, and is midway through his debut eight-month mission in space. 

 Meir returned to space after a 205-day trip aboard the ISS in 2019-2020. During her first station visit, Meir made history when she took part in the first all-female spacewalk.