International Space Station Update: Expedition 74 and Planned Spacewalks

The ISS—a collaborative project involving NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, JAXA, and CSA—remains operational in low-Earth orbit, continuously inhabited for over 25 years.

A series of spacewalks have been planned for early 2026, and a crew rotation is currently underway. The station continues to host scientific research and maintenance activities.

Station Specifications and Orbit

The ISS orbits Earth at an average altitude of approximately 250–260 miles, completing roughly 16 orbits per day at a speed of approximately 17,500 mph. The station measures approximately 356 feet in length and includes six sleeping quarters, two bathrooms, a gymnasium, a 360-degree view bay window, and docking ports for up to eight spacecraft.

The ISS is visible from Earth with the naked eye. According to NASA, optimal viewing times are a few hours before sunrise or after sunset, when sunlight reflects off the station. The station may appear brighter than Venus during these periods.

Current Crew and Expedition 74

Expedition 74 currently comprises seven astronauts. As of the most recent reports, the crew includes:

• Crew-11: NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. This crew launched on August 1 from the Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule.
• Soyuz MS-28: NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Mikaev and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, who arrived in late November.

The Crew-11 mission is nearing its conclusion. The Crew-12 contingent—comprising NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev—is anticipated to replace them by February. According to earlier scheduling, Crew-12 arrived in February and was expected to depart in September, while the Soyuz MS-28 crew was scheduled to depart in July.

Planned Spacewalks for January 2026

First Spacewalk (U.S. Spacewalk 94) – Postponed

A spacewalk originally scheduled for Thursday, January 8, 2026, was postponed due to a medical concern involving a crew member. The astronaut's identity and specific medical details were not disclosed at the time of postponement. Mike Fincke later identified himself as the astronaut who experienced the medical issue, confirming his health status as stable.

Had it occurred, this spacewalk would have featured NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman. Fincke would have served as spacewalk crew member 1, identified by red stripes on his suit, while Cardman would have been crew member 2, wearing an unmarked suit. The event would have marked Cardman's first spacewalk and Fincke's tenth, tying him with Peggy Whitson for the most spacewalks conducted by a NASA astronaut.

The primary objective of this spacewalk was to prepare the 2A power channel for the future installation of International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays (iROSA). These arrays are intended to provide additional power and support the station's controlled deorbit.

Second Spacewalk (U.S. Spacewalk 95)

A second spacewalk was scheduled for Thursday, January 15, 2026, beginning at 7:10 a.m. EST and projected to last approximately six hours and 30 minutes. The participating astronauts were to be announced following the January 8 spacewalk. Objectives included:

• Replacing a high-definition camera on camera port 3
• Installing a new navigational aid (a planar reflector) on the Harmony module's forward port
• Relocating an early ammonia servicer jumper and other jumpers on the station’s S6 and S4 truss sections

Executed Spacewalk (March 18)

A spacewalk was conducted on March 18 by NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Chris Williams. They commenced their extravehicular activity (EVA) at approximately 8 a.m. EDT, with the spacewalk expected to last about 6.5 hours. This marked Meir's fourth spacewalk and Williams' first. The primary objective was to prepare one of the station's power channels for the future installation of an iROSA.

Context and Coverage

These planned spacewalks would have been the 278th and 279th in support of ISS assembly, maintenance, and upgrades. They represent the first ISS spacewalks of 2026 and for Expedition 74. The most recent EVAs prior to these were conducted by two Russian astronauts on October 28, 2025.

NASA has provided live coverage of spacewalks on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and the agency’s YouTube channel. Coverage typically begins 90 minutes before the scheduled start of each spacewalk.

Tracking the ISS

NASA's "Spot the Station" mobile app (free on iOS and Android) sends notifications when the ISS passes overhead. The European Space Agency also provides an online tracker for sightings.