NASA is preparing two spacewalks to complete the International Space Station’s solar power upgrades. Scheduled for October 29 and November 5, the operations will add the final two roll-out solar arrays, increasing the station’s available electrical power by up to 30%. The upgrades will raise the ISS power generation capacity from 160 kilowatts to approximately 215 kilowatts. The additional electricity will support station operations, including preparations for its eventual safe and controlled deorbit. For eeNews Europe readers, the final ISS solar arrays offer an interesting example of how deployable solar technology can increase power generation on an existing spacecraft. The project also shows how electrical infrastructure can be upgraded in orbit without replacing the station’s entire power system. Two Spacewalks to Complete the ISS Solar Arrays The first spacewalk, designated U.S. spacewalk 100, is scheduled for Thursday, October 29. NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk will leave the station through the Quest airlock to install and deploy the seventh International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Array (IROSA). The array will be connected to the station’s 2A electrical power channel, adding generating capacity to the existing power system. The second operation, U.S. spacewalk 101, is planned for Thursday, November 5. Menon and Kutryk will install the eighth and final IROSA on the 3B electrical power channel. Together, these installations will complete the station’s planned solar power augmentation. Increasing Power Generation by 30% The ISS relies on solar energy to power its scientific equipment, life support systems, and other onboard operations. The IROSA upgrades are designed to increase the electricity available from the station’s existing power infrastructure. Once all eight arrays are installed, NASA expects available power to increase by up to 30%, bringing the station’s generation capacity to approximately 215 kilowatts. The additional capacity will help support critical operations during the station’s remaining service life. NASA also identifies the upgraded power system as important for the ISS’s eventual controlled deorbit. Final Installations Scheduled for November The two upcoming spacewalks will be the 285th and 286th conducted to support ISS assembly, maintenance, and upgrades. Both operations will involve Menon and Kutryk, who will work outside the station to complete the final electrical power upgrades. NASA plans to provide additional coverage details closer to each spacewalk, including information about how to watch the operations live. The installations are scheduled for October 29 and November 5, with updates available through NASA’s live events page and the International Space Station blog . The post NASA Plans Final Solar Array Upgrades for ISS appeared first on eeNews Europe .