NASA Astronaut Mike Fincke Ties Spacewalking Record in Preparation for New Solar Arrays

NASA astronaut Mike Fincke will equal the U.S. spacewalking record on Jan. 8, as he and Zena Cardman prepare the International Space Station for new solar arrays. The extravehicular activity (EVA) is scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. EST (1300 GMT) and last approximately 6.5 hours.

Fincke’s 10th spacewalk will tie the NASA record for most EVAs, previously held by astronauts including Peggy Whitson.

The primary objective of the spacewalk is to install an International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Array (iROSA), which will enhance the station’s power generation and support its controlled deorbit.

According to NASA’s spacewalk preview, "Once installed, the array will provide additional power for the orbital laboratory, including critical support of its safe and controlled deorbit." The iROSA is part of a broader ISS power upgrade initiative, not a standalone mission.

Live coverage of the event will be available at Space.com and via NASA, beginning at 6:30 a.m. EST (1130 GMT). A second spacewalk is planned for Jan. 15 to replace a camera and install a navigational aid.

The technical procedures for these EVAs are standard components of the ISS’s ongoing maintenance and modernization efforts.