NASA has postponed the first of two spacewalks originally scheduled for January 2026 on the International Space Station (ISS) due to a medical concern involving a crew member. While the January 8 extravehicular activity (EVA) featuring astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman has no new date, the second spacewalk, planned for January 15, remains on schedule. These activities are part of ongoing maintenance and upgrades for the orbiting laboratory.
Original Spacewalk Schedule and Objectives
NASA had initially scheduled two spacewalks for January 2026 to support the International Space Station's operations and prepare for future enhancements. These events were to be the 278th and 279th spacewalks in support of ISS assembly, maintenance, and upgrade operations, and the inaugural spacewalks for Expedition 74.
- U.S. Spacewalk 94: This EVA was planned for Thursday, January 8, 2026, with a duration of approximately six hours and 30 minutes, commencing at 8 a.m. EST. Astronauts Mike Fincke (designated spacewalk crew member 1 with red stripes) and Zena Cardman (crew member 2 with an unmarked suit) were assigned. The primary objective 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 for the station and support its controlled deorbit. This event would have marked Cardman's first spacewalk and Fincke's tenth, potentially tying the record for the most spacewalks conducted by a NASA astronaut.
- U.S. Spacewalk 95: Scheduled for Thursday, January 15, 2026, this spacewalk is also projected to last about six hours and 30 minutes, beginning at 7:10 a.m. EST. The participating astronauts for this EVA are to be announced following the first spacewalk. Objectives include replacing a high-definition camera on camera port 3, installing a new navigational aid called a planar reflector on the Harmony module's forward port, and relocating an early ammonia servicer jumper along with other jumpers on the station’s S6 and S4 truss sections.
Postponement Details
The spacewalk originally planned for January 8, 2026, has been postponed due to a medical concern involving one of the crew members. NASA did not disclose the identity of the astronaut or specific medical details, nor has a new date for the spacewalk been announced. This spacewalk would have been the 278th in the station's history and the first of 2026. The most recent EVAs were conducted by two Russian astronauts on October 28, 2025.
International Space Station Context
The International Space Station (ISS) has operated in low-Earth orbit, typically at an altitude of approximately 260 miles, for over 25 years. It functions as a platform for scientific research in microgravity and hosts astronauts from various nations. The ISS is maintained through a global partnership that includes NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency (ESA), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). Over 280 spacefarers from 26 countries, including 170 from the United States, have visited the station. The ISS measures approximately 356 feet long and features six sleeping quarters, two bathrooms, a gymnasium, a 360-degree view bay window, and docking ports for up to eight spacecraft.
Current ISS Crew
Seven individuals are presently living and working aboard the International Space Station.
- NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Mikaev and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov arrived in late November on a Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft.
- The Crew-11 mission members include NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (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 propelled by a Falcon 9 rocket.
- The Crew-11 mission is approaching its conclusion, with the Crew-12 contingent anticipated to replace them by February.
Spacewalk Coverage
NASA had planned to provide live coverage of the spacewalks. Coverage for both the original January 8 spacewalk and the January 15 spacewalk was scheduled to begin 90 minutes prior to their respective start times. Broadcasts were intended to be available on NASA+, Amazon Prime, the agency’s YouTube channel, and NASA’s X account.