NASA Astronaut Spacewalk Preparations | International Space Station

NASA Astronaut Spacewalk Preparations | International Space Station

NASA astronaut and Expedition 74 flight engineer Jessica Meir works inside the International Space Station's Quest airlock, installing leg and arm components on a spacesuit and swapping components from one suit to another.

NASA astronaut and Expedition 74 flight engineer Jessica Meir’s reflection is captured in a spacesuit helmet visor. The visor assembly is coated with a microscopic layer of gold that reflects infrared radiation to protect an astronaut’s eyes while allowing visible light to pass through. Meir was working inside the International Space Station's Quest airlock, installing leg and arm components on the spacesuit and swapping components from one suit to another. 

NASA astronaut and Expedition 74 crew member Chris Williams smiles for the camera during a spacesuit fit verification inside the International Space Station’s Quest airlock. Officially called the On-Orbit Fit Verification, this procedure confirms that the spacesuit is airtight and properly configured, assesses comfort and mobility, and helps prevent potential safety risks.

NASA astronaut and Expedition 74 flight engineer Chris Williams inspects and configures a spacesuit jetpack, known as the Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue (SAFER), inside the International Space Station’s Destiny laboratory module. The jetpacks attach to the rear of spacesuits and serve as a safety mechanism that allows a spacewalker to maneuver back to the station in the unlikely event they become untethered from their worksite.

NASA astronauts Chris Williams and Jessica Meir, both Expedition 74 flight engineers, inspect and configure a spacesuit jetpack, known as the Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue (SAFER), inside the International Space Station’s Destiny laboratory module. The jetpacks attach to the rear of spacesuits and serve as a safety mechanism that allows a spacewalker to maneuver back to the station in the unlikely event they become untethered from their worksite. 

NASA astronaut and Expedition 74 flight engineer Chris Williams familiarizes himself with the hardware he will use to install a modification kit and route cables on the port side of the International Space Station during a spacewalk with fellow NASA astronaut Jessica Meir. The duo will use the hardware to prepare the orbital outpost for a future roll‑out solar array that will be installed during a later spacewalk. 

NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Chris Williams, both Expedition 74 flight engineers, familiarize themselves with the hardware they will use to install a modification kit and route cables on the port side of the International Space Station. The duo will conduct a spacewalk using the hardware to prepare the orbital outpost for a future roll‑out solar array that will be installed during a later spacewalk.

NASA astronaut and Expedition 74 flight engineer Jack Hathaway configures a spacesuit installing its components, checking a helmet, and cleaning suit seals inside the International Space Station's Quest airlock.

A spacewalk by NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Chris Williams is scheduled on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at the International Space Station. The team has reviewed the spacewalking tools and tasks necessary to install a modification kit and route cables on the port side of the orbital outpost. This external maintenance work will enable the next roll-out solar array to be installed on a future spacewalk after it is delivered on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.

Follow Expedition 74:

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 74 Crew
Station Commander: Sergey-Kud Sverchkov (Russia)
Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineers: Andrey Fedyaev, Sergei Mikaev

European Space Agency Flight Engineer: Sophie Adenot

NASA Flight Engineers: Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, Chris Williams

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada.

Image Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center/J. Hathaway

Date: March 12, 2026

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