Anil Menon Undertakes First Spacewalk

Nasa astronaut Anil Menon achieved a major milestone in his space career on Thursday by undertaking his first-ever spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS). The extravehicular activity (EVA), carried out with veteran Nasa astronaut Jessica Meir, was part of a mission to upgrade the orbiting laboratory's power system for future operations.

The spacewalk, designated US Spacewalk 96, began at 8.33 am and was scheduled to last about 6.5 hours. Menon and Meir worked on the ISS's 3B power channel, installing hardware that will enable the future installation of a new ISS Roll-Out Solar Array (iROSA) later this year. The upgraded solar array will provide additional electrical power to support the station's scientific missions and future operations, including preparations for its eventual controlled deorbit.

Meir, who was making her sixth spacewalk, served as EV-1 wearing the spacesuit with red stripes, while Menon, on his maiden EVA, served as EV-2 in an unmarked suit. The pair had spent the previous day preparing spacesuits, configuring tools and reviewing procedures inside the Quest airlock before stepping into the vacuum of space.

Menon, a physician and mechanical engineer selected by Nasa in 2021, is of Indian origin with family roots in Kerala. His maiden spacewalk marks another significant milestone for the Indian diaspora in global space exploration. Nasa has scheduled two more US spacewalks this month as part of its continuing effort to modernise the ISS power system and communications infrastructure. — Agencies