Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk to perform his first spacewalk

Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk is set to conduct his first spacewalk on Thursday, October 29, 2026, alongside NASA astronaut Anil Menon, marking the 100th spacewalk at the International Space Station (ISS). The event will take place approximately 400 kilometers above Earth and will last nearly seven hours. During this critical mission, Kutryk and Menon will install eight solar arrays on the ISS's port side truss structure to increase its power capacity from 160 kilowatts to 215 kilowatts.

The spacewalk involves upgrading the station’s power generation system by installing new solar panels using the Canadarm 2 robotic arm. This mission, which includes a second walk on November 5, is significant as it enhances the ISS's operational capabilities and represents Canada’s continued involvement in international space exploration efforts. Jenni Gibbons, another Canadian astronaut serving as capcom from NASA's Johnson Space Center, will support the operation via communications.

Kutryk becomes the fifth Canadian astronaut to perform a spacewalk since 2019 when David Saint-Jacques last completed one. The truss where the panels are installed functions as the station’s structural backbone, supporting essential systems like solar wings and radiators.