NASA Announces January 2026 Spacewalks for ISS Upgrades & Maintenance

NASA announced on December 29, 2025, that astronauts will perform two spacewalks in January to carry out essential maintenance and upgrades aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

The first spacewalk is scheduled for January 8, 2026, with astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman preparing the 2A power channel for the installation of a new Roll-Out Solar Array. “The solar array is projected to add extra power to the station, which will also include assistance for controlled deorbit operations,” NASA stated. The tasks include connecting, routing, and securing electrical and mechanical components required for the future installation. This will mark Zena Cardman’s first spacewalk and the 10th for Fincke, tying him with the astronaut holding the most spacewalks in NASA history.

The second spacewalk is set for January 15, 2026, and will include the replacement of a high-definition camera on camera port 3, installation of a planar reflector on the Harmony module’s forward port to aid visiting spacecraft navigation, and relocation of ammonia servicer jumpers along the S6 and S4 truss. NASA confirmed that the astronauts performing this second spacewalk and its detailed timeline will be announced closer to the operation.

“These spacewalks are part of ongoing ISS maintenance and assembly operations that ensure critical power distribution, fluid management, and structural systems remain fully functional,” NASA noted. The upcoming tasks will support research activities, crew rotation, resupply missions, and future deep space operations.

NASA also highlighted that these will be the 278th and 279th spacewalks in the ISS’s history and the first for Expedition 74 in 2026. The agency emphasized that regular upgrades and maintenance of the station’s infrastructure are vital to sustaining long-term scientific research and operational readiness in low Earth orbit.

Media coverage and live streaming of the spacewalks will be available through NASA’s Johnson Space Center.