NASA astronauts set for 1st ISS spacewalk of 2026 today
NASA's Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman are stepping outside the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday at 8:00am EST for the year's first spacewalk.
This six-and-a-half-hour mission kicks off Expedition 74's spacewalks and gets things ready for a new solar array that'll boost station power and help with its eventual retirement.
What will they actually do up there?
Fincke and Cardman will install a modification kit, route cables, and add jumper cables to the station's truss.
They'll also snap photos of hardware and collect samples near the airlock to check for microscopic life—pretty cool science in action.
Want to watch it live?
You can catch all the action starting at 6:30am EST on NASA+, Amazon Prime, or YouTube.
Fun fact: Fincke is tying a record with his 10th spacewalk (look for his red-striped suit), while Cardman is making her debut in an unmarked suit.
The next ISS spacewalk is set for January 15.