HOUSTON — Two astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) are stepping into the vacuum of space today, August 18, 2026, to carry out a critical repair mission on the orbital lab’s primary communication hardware.

NASA astronaut Anil Menon and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot are slated to execute a six-and-a-half-hour extravehicular activity (EVA). The mission marks the 97th US-led spacewalk in space station history and a major milestone for both space agencies.

Upgrade Mission: Fixing the SGANT Assembly

The primary objective of today's spacewalk is the replacement of the Space-to-Ground Antenna (SGANT) assembly mounted on the orbital outpost’s Z1 truss segment.

The SGANT system serves as a vital backbone for high-speed voice, video, and scientific data transmissions between the ISS crew and mission controllers at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Over the course of the operation, Menon and Adenot will unbolt the aging antenna unit, retrieve a fresh spare from an external stowage platform, and carefully complete complex electrical and fiber-optic reconnections.

Team Mechanics and Robotic Support

Executing a spacewalk requires a coordinated dance between orbital crew members and ground control:

  • In the Suits: NASA’s Anil Menon will ride the station’s massive Canadarm2 robotic arm to transport the heavy antenna hardware across the station's exterior. ESA’s Sophie Adenot will maneuver along the station’s outer frame using traditional safety tethers.

  • At the Controls: Station Commander Jessica Meir and Flight Engineer Jack Hathaway will remain inside the orbital complex to operate Canadarm2 and continuously monitor their colleagues' airlocks and life support systems.

How to Stream the NASA ESA Spacewalk Live

Space enthusiasts worldwide can watch full coverage of the mission free of charge across multiple digital platforms:

  • Live Coverage Schedule: Official coverage begins at 7:00 AM EDT (11:00 UTC / 4:30 PM IST), with the astronauts officially switching their suits to internal battery power at approximately 8:35 AM EDT (12:35 UTC / 6:05 PM IST).

  • Where to Watch: The webcast will be broadcast live via NASA TV on NASA’s official website, the NASA App, and streamed across the official NASA and ESA YouTube channels.