On August 18, 2026, the crew of the International Space Station (ISS) conducted a scheduled spacewalk that, despite its significant duration, failed to fully achieve the set objectives. NASA astronaut Anil Menon and European Space Agency (ESA) cosmonaut Sophie Adenot left the station to perform critical repair work. The operation lasted more than six hours, but technical difficulties prevented the completion of the new equipment installation.
Historical Moment and Technical Challenges
This spacewalk was particularly important not only from a technical but also from a historical perspective. Sophie Adenot became the first French woman to perform an extravehicular activity outside the orbital station. Together with her mission partner Anil Menon, she was supposed to replace an old communications antenna, which ensures a stable data transmission channel between the ISS and the Mission Control Center in Houston. However, as reported by the TASS agency, unforeseen delays arose during the work, which changed the course of the operation.
Specialists on the ground and on board the station encountered difficulties in dismantling the old equipment and installing the new one. Despite the astronauts spending 6 hours and 23 minutes on the work, they were unable to fully complete the antenna installation. According to sources, the cosmonauts managed only to dismantle the old antenna, but the installation of the new one was postponed until the next spacewalk.
Partial Task Completion and Communication Risks
Currently, ISS specialists are working to prevent possible disruptions in the communication system. The main task of this mission is considered only partially completed. According to the plan, the installation of new communication equipment will be fully completed during one of the next spacewalks. Full restoration of communication with the control center in Houston remains one of the priority tasks for the coming days.
Experts note that the delay in replacing the antenna may create risks for the stability of data transmission, however, current backup systems allow the station to function in normal mode. The flight control team is already clarifying the date of the next spacewalk to minimize the time the station operates in partial communication mode.
Contradictory Data
There are minor discrepancies in the details of the description of the work done in different sources. According to data from the TASS news agency and the Zamin.uz report, the astronauts encountered technical delays that prevented the completion of the installation. At the same time, the French agency RFI clarifies that Adenot and Menon only managed to dismantle the old antenna, and the installation of the new one will be rescheduled for a later date. This confirms the version that the task was completed only at the first stage, and the final installation is postponed.
Prospects and Future Plans
Despite the incompleteness of the current mission, experts assess the situation as manageable. The next spacewalk will be scheduled in the near future to complete the antenna installation and ensure the full operability of the communication system. This event will become an important stage in the history of the ISS, considering the historical significance of Sophie Adenot's participation in the operation.
