Expedition 69 flight engineers, Steve Bowen and Woody Hoburg, successfully installed a new roll-out solar array (IROSA) on the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday, boosting the station's power generation capabilities. The spacewalk, which lasted 5 hours and 35 minutes, focused on integrating the IROSA into the 1B power channel located on the starboard truss structure. This new array will supplement the station's existing power system.

IROSAs, first deployed on the ISS in 2017, offer a more efficient and lighter alternative to traditional solar array wings. Functioning similarly to a tape measure, these arrays can be extended and retracted as needed. NASA has been progressively installing IROSAs through a series of spacewalks, aiming to restore and enhance the station's power levels. The newly installed array measures 60 feet by 20 feet, partially covering one of the original arrays. Each IROSA generates over 20 kilowatts of electricity, and their combined contribution will increase the station's power production by 30% compared to the current array system.

This latest spacewalk marks the 265th conducted for the assembly, maintenance, and upgrades of the International Space Station.