Astronauts Advance Solar Array Upgrades During Nearly Six-Hour EVA
On May 1, 2025, NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers successfully conducted the fifth all-female spacewalk in history, advancing power system upgrades aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The 5-hour, 44-minute extravehicular activity (EVA) saw the duo relocate an antenna and begin preparations for installing a new set of Rollout Solar Arrays (IROSA) to enhance the station’s energy efficiency.
The EVA began at 9:05 a.m. EDT (1305 GMT) when the Expedition 73 crew members exited the U.S. Quest airlock. Despite time constraints and depleted consumables, McClain and Ayers completed the majority of their planned tasks before returning safely to the station.
Upgrading ISS Power Systems with New Rollout Solar Arrays
The mission’s primary focus was on preparing the port-side truss of the ISS for the seventh set of IROSA solar arrays, which will be delivered later in the year via a SpaceX Dragon resupply mission. The IROSAs are designed to increase the ISS’s total power generation from 160 kW to 215 kW—a 30% boost that supports growing scientific and operational demands aboard the orbital lab.
During the EVA, McClain and Ayers assembled and installed critical components of the mast canister modification kit, including the right struts and the upper triangle structure. While they were forced to defer some non-critical tasks, the work laid a solid foundation for the upcoming solar array installation.
Marking Milestones in All-Female Spacewalk History
This spacewalk marked Nichole Ayers’ first EVA and Anne McClain’s third, bringing McClain’s total EVA time to 18 hours and 52 minutes. The event continues NASA’s commitment to gender equity in space exploration, adding to a growing history of all-female EVAs.
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The first all-female spacewalk was conducted by Christina Koch and Jessica Meir in October 2019.
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Koch and Meir completed two more spacewalks together in January 2020.
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In November 2023, Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara performed another historic female-led EVA.
The May 1 outing was the 93rd spacewalk from the U.S. Quest airlock and the 275th overall EVA in support of ISS assembly, maintenance, and upgrades since the station’s continuous occupancy began in November 2000.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
