Spacewalkers Replace ISS Antenna but Leave Spare Uninstalled

Astronauts completed a 6-hour 23-minute spacewalk to replace a failed ISS antenna, but ran out of time to install the spare, prompting a follow-up spacewalk.

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NASA astronaut Anil Menon and ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot completed a challenging spacewalk outside the International Space Station on Tuesday, replacing a failed Space-to-Ground antenna but leaving a spare uninstalled due to time constraints.

The spacewalk began at 8:29 a.m. EDT and ended at 2:52 p.m. EDT, with the hatch closed and repressurization underway. The total duration was 6 hours 23 minutes, marking the 282nd EVA for ISS assembly and maintenance and the fifth of 2026.

Menon, wearing a suit with red stripes, served as crew member 1 and completed his second EVA. Adenot, in an unmarked suit, performed her first spacewalk, becoming the first French woman to walk in space.

The primary task was to replace the Space-to-Ground antenna, which had failed. The crew successfully removed the faulty unit and lashed it down near the boom, but they ran out of time to install the replacement, which remains on a storage platform.

According to NASA, the station has two such antennas, and only one is needed for normal operations, so the ISS is not in immediate jeopardy. Flight controllers are now considering whether to install the spare during a follow-up spacewalk scheduled for next Tuesday, August 25, or to defer the work.

Menon's total EVA time now stands at 12 hours 50 minutes. Since 1998, astronauts have accumulated 74 days 10 hours 44 minutes of spacewalk time on the ISS.

The partially successful spacewalk highlights the complexities of working outside the station, where time and physical constraints can limit what crews accomplish in a single outing.

NASA officials said the failed antenna was successfully removed, but the installation of the spare will require another EVA. The upcoming spacewalk will give astronauts another opportunity to complete the task, though the decision to proceed will depend on readiness and other factors.

Adenot's historic walk was a milestone for ESA and France, as she became the first French woman to perform a spacewalk. Her performance was praised by space agencies, though the primary focus remains on the station's operational readiness.

The ISS continues to operate normally with the remaining functional antenna, and the spare can be installed at a later date if needed. The next EVA will be closely watched as astronauts aim to finish what was started.