Astronauts Prep ISS for New Solar Array on First NASA Spacewalk in 10 Months

On March 18th, Jessica Meir and Chris Williams completed a 7-hour spacewalk to prepare the International Space Station (ISS) for the installation of a new iROSA (ISS Roll-Out Array) solar array. This spacewalk, the first U.S. EVA in almost a year, involved assembling and attaching a bracket structure on the port side of the ISS truss. The new iROSA arrays, once deployed, will be the seventh of eight to be installed since 2021. These arrays are designed to augment the ISS's power supply, which has been diminishing due to the degradation of the original solar arrays that have exceeded their 15-year service life.

The iROSA arrays are smaller than the legacy solar wings and utilize a unique deployment mechanism, unfurling via stored energy in carbon composite booms, eliminating the need for motors. The upgrade is projected to increase the ISS's electricity supply by 20% to 30%, which is crucial for supporting expanded commercial activities and the upcoming transition to commercially operated space stations. The technology has already been validated by NASA for deep-space missions, including the DART mission.

While the initial plan was to install the iROSA kit in May 2025, the recent spacewalk marks a significant step forward. The additional power will be vital for sustaining the ISS's operations and facilitating future research. However, potential delays in the installation process could impact the station's power capabilities. The future of the Gateway program, which was also slated to use roll-out solar arrays, remains uncertain, potentially affecting the broader application of this technology.

*Transparency Statement: This analysis was generated by an AI language model to provide information on the ISS solar array upgrade. The information presented is based on the provided source content.*

_Context: This intelligence report was compiled by the DailyOrbitalWire Strategy Engine. Verified for Art. 50 Compliance._