Astronauts Install Ku-band Antenna on ISS

NASA astronaut Anil Menon and European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot completed a 6.5-hour extravehicular activity outside the International Space Station on 25 August 2026. The operation was designated U.S. Spacewalk 98 and ended at 2:57 p.m. EDT after beginning at about 8:27 a.m. EDT.

International Space Station Communications

The International Space Station uses space-to-ground communication systems for voice, telemetry, and data transfer. A Ku-band antenna is a high-frequency microwave antenna used for high-speed communication links between spacecraft and ground stations.

Spacewalk Hardware and Truss Structure

The astronauts installed and connected a replacement Ku-band communication antenna on the Z1 truss segment of the ISS. The Z1 truss is an external structural element on the station that supports communication and power-related hardware.

Robotic Support and Crew Roles

Inside the ISS, NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway and Jessica Meir assisted the spacewalk. Jack Hathaway operated the Canadarm2 robotic arm, which is used on the ISS for payload handling, astronaut support, and external maintenance tasks.

Important Facts for Exams

• Extravehicular activity, or EVA, is the term used for work performed by astronauts outside a spacecraft.
• The International Space Station is a modular orbital laboratory that has been continuously inhabited since November 2000.
• Canadarm2 is a robotic manipulator system on the ISS used for assembly and maintenance operations.
• Ku-band is part of the microwave spectrum and is widely used in satellite communications.

Career Milestones

Sophie Adenot completed her second career spacewalk on 25 August 2026. Anil Menon completed his third consecutive career spacewalk after earlier excursions on 6 August 2026 and 18 August 2026.