May 1 Spacewalk By NASA Astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers Will Complete ISS Upgrades

Spacewalkers will relocate a space station communications antennae and install a mounting bracket

BREVARD COUNTY • FLORIDA — Two NASA astronauts will venture outside the International Space Station, conducting U.S. spacewalk 93 on Thursday, May 1, to complete station upgrades.

NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers will relocate a space station communications antenna and install a mounting bracket ahead of the installation of an additional set of International Space Station Rollout Solar Arrays, also called IROSA.

The arrays will boost power generation capability by up to 30%, increasing the station’s total available power from 160 kilowatts to up to 215 kilowatts. The arrays will be installed on a future spacewalk following their arrival on a SpaceX Dragon commercial resupply services mission later this year.

McClain will serve as spacewalk crew member 1 and will wear a suit with red stripes. Ayers will serve as spacewalk crew member 2 and will wear an unmarked suit. This will be the third spacewalk for McClain and the first for Ayers.

U.S. spacewalk 93 will be the 275th spacewalk in support of space station assembly, maintenance, and upgrades.

NASA will preview the upcoming spacewalk during a news conference at 2 p.m. EDT on Thursday, April 24, on the agency’s website from NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Learn how to watch NASA content  through a variety of platforms, including social media.

Participants in the news conference include:

● Bill Spetch, operations integration manager, International Space Station Program

● Diana Trujillo, spacewalk flight director, NASA Johnson

The spacewalk is scheduled to last about six and a half hours. NASA will provide additional information, including live NASA+ coverage details, when available.

Learn more about International Space Station research and operations.

Similar Stories