On August 18, 2026, NASA astronaut Anil Menon and the first French woman to conduct a spacewalk, Sophie Adenot, performed an extravehicular activity outside the International Space Station. The planned work involved removing a faulty communications antenna and installing a new unit.
The astronauts successfully detached the defective antenna, navigating the typical challenges of working in microgravity. Handling the bulky equipment required careful coordination and adherence to safety protocols.
As the EVA progressed, mission controllers determined that the remaining time would not allow completion of the replacement antenna installation. To avoid risking the crew or the station, the decision was made to postpone the installation to a future opportunity.
Space agencies note that such adjustments are common during complex orbital repairs. Plans for completing the antenna swap are being formulated, while the removed faulty unit will be returned to Earth for further analysis.