A Spacewalk, a Sensor Glitch, and a Shifting Schedule
NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Anil Menon spent 6 hours and 27 minutes outside the International Space Station on Aug. 6, completing the primary task of preparing the 3B power channel for a future roll-out solar array. The work was straightforward until the final minutes, when a carbon dioxide sensor inside Menon’s spacesuit showed an unexpected data reading — though he reported no other physical symptoms or suit problems during the excursion.
After the suit was removed and inspected, the sensor readings returned to normal. However, flight controllers want additional analysis before the next planned spacewalk, so they have moved the antenna-replacement outing from its original slot to Tuesday, Aug. 18. A third spacewalk later in the month — currently set for Aug. 25 — remains on the calendar for now, with final decisions expected early next week.
While the engineers review suit data, the rest of the station crew pressed ahead with science and maintenance. American astronaut Jack Hathaway rehearsed robotic arm procedures for the upcoming spacewalk, while European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot tested two advanced exercise devices — the EasyMotion-2 suit and the E4D rope-pull machine — that could help preserve muscle and bone on future deep-space missions. Russian cosmonauts worked on circulation studies, automated Earth photography, and stowage optimization in their modules.
What the Incident Means for Station Upkeep
Why the Suit Sensor Snag Matters
Carbon dioxide buildup inside a spacesuit can quickly become dangerous, so the sensor reading — even if transient — triggers a mandatory engineering review. That NASA can swap the dates for two spacewalks without disrupting the overall mission timeline reflects a mature, flexible operational plan, but it also underscores how dependent station maintenance is on suit reliability. The spacesuits used for U.S. segment spacewalks are aging and have seen periodic hardware issues; this kind of anomaly feeds into ongoing discussions about next-generation suit development and procurement.
Keeping the Station Powered
Preparing the 3B power channel is a tangible step toward installing new roll-out solar arrays, or iROSA units, which are being added to boost the station’s electricity production as the original arrays degrade over time. Each successful power-upgrade spacewalk helps extend the working life of the ISS and supports the increasing power demands of commercial and international payloads. The brief delay to the antenna spacewalk does not threaten the overall upgrade schedule.
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