# NASA Previews Final Solar Array Upgrades for International Space Station Upcoming spacewalks 100 and 101 will finalize power augmentation for the orbital laboratory. - **Source:** [NASA](https://www.nasa.gov) - **Published:** 2026-10-14 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/448a42b5-c094-4fa5-8165-d8c4e9070027 ## Upcoming News Conference Details NASA will host a news conference on Tuesday, October 20, at 2 p.m. EDT from the Johnson Space Center in Houston. The event will preview two critical spacewalks, designated 100 and 101, aimed at completing the solar array installation. Participants include operations integration manager Gaurang Patel and flight director Garrett Hehn. ## Spacewalk 100 Mission Objectives Scheduled for Thursday, October 29, spacewalk 100 features astronauts Anil Menon and Joshua Kutryk. They will exit the Quest airlock to install the seventh International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Array on the 2A electrical power channel. This deployment is essential for supporting critical station operations and the eventual safe, controlled deorbit process. ## Finalizing Power System Augmentation On Thursday, November 5, the crew will conduct spacewalk 101 to install the eighth and final solar array on the 3B channel. This operation marks the completion of the station's extensive power augmentation project. These two final arrays are vital for finalizing the station's upgraded electrical infrastructure and long-term energy sustainability. ## Significant Power Capacity Increase The installation of these eight roll-out arrays will increase the station's available power by up to 30 percent. This upgrade boosts the electric power generation capacity from the current 160 kilowatts to approximately 215 kilowatts. Such an increase ensures the station remains fully operational for its remaining research and maintenance requirements. ## Historical Context of Spacewalks These upcoming missions will be the 285th and 286th spacewalks conducted in support of International Space Station assembly, maintenance, and upgrades. The long-term effort reflects decades of orbital engineering and international cooperation. These specific tasks are part of a broader strategy to maintain the station's viability for ongoing scientific research and crewed operations. ## Media Participation and Access United States-based media must contact the Johnson newsroom by 3 p.m. on Monday, October 19, to attend in person. Journalists joining by phone are required to request dial-in details by the same deadline. Questions must be submitted via the dial-in line at least 15 minutes before the conference officially begins on Tuesday. ## Operational Integration and Oversight The mission is managed by the Flight Operations Directorate, with Garrett Hehn serving as the spacewalk flight director. Gaurang Patel, the operations integration manager for the Low Earth Orbit Program, will provide technical oversight. Their coordination ensures that complex electrical upgrades are executed safely during the high-stakes extravehicular activities planned for late October. ## Future Coverage and Resources NASA plans to share additional coverage details closer to the operation dates on the agency’s live events web page and the space station blog. Interested parties can access further information regarding research, operations, and crew activities through the official NASA station portal. These resources provide ongoing updates for all upcoming orbital maintenance tasks. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-to-host-news-conference-previewing-us-spacewalks-100-101/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._