NASA to Host News Conference Previewing US Spacewalks 100, 101

Meta Title: NASA Previews U.S. Spacewalks 100 and 101 for ISS Power Upgrade
Meta Description: NASA will preview U.S. spacewalks 100 and 101, planned to support solar array installation and power upgrades on the International Space Station.
URL Slug: nasa-iss-spacewalks-100-101-power-upgrade
Excerpt: NASA plans a news conference ahead of U.S. spacewalks 100 and 101, which are intended to continue solar array installation and increase available power on the International Space Station. The work is part of a long-running effort to keep the orbiting laboratory productive through the remainder of its operational life.

# NASA to Preview 100th and 101st U.S. Spacewalks for ISS Power Upgrade

NASA is preparing to discuss two upcoming International Space Station spacewalks that will help continue a major power-system upgrade aboard the orbiting laboratory.

According to a NASA announcement, the agency will hold a news conference at 2 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, Oct. 20, from NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The briefing will preview U.S. spacewalks 100 and 101, which are planned to support solar array installation and power augmentation work outside the station.

NASA will stream the event through its online platforms, including [NASA Live](https://www.nasa.gov/live/).

The announcement establishes the broad purpose of the planned work, but it does not provide every operational detail. As of the preview notice, NASA has not publicly specified in the summary the final crew assignments, exact dates of each spacewalk, the particular solar-array locations involved, or the anticipated duration of the excursions. Those details may be confirmed during the briefing or in subsequent mission updates.

## Why the International Space Station Needs More Power

The International Space Station depends on large solar arrays to generate electricity. These arrays convert sunlight into power, which is then stored in batteries and distributed across the station for life support, research equipment, communications, computers, cooling systems, robotic operations, and other essential hardware.

The original solar arrays were designed for a long operational period, but space is a harsh environment. Over time, solar cells gradually lose efficiency because of radiation exposure, temperature cycling, and the cumulative effects of the orbital environment. The station also repeatedly moves between sunlight and darkness as it circles Earth roughly every 90 minutes, creating substantial thermal stresses.

NASA and its international partners have therefore pursued a power augmentation program rather than waiting for the original arrays to fail completely. The program adds newer, more compact solar arrays that can be installed alongside the older wings. These additions are known as International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays, or iROSAs.

Rather than unfolding like the station’s original large solar wings, the newer arrays are rolled up for launch and unroll once mounted in space. Their design reduces the volume required during transport while delivering substantial electrical output after deployment.

## What Spacewalks 100 and 101 Are Expected to Accomplish

NASA’s source announcement says the two planned U.S. spacewalks will “complete solar array installation and power augmentation” work. That wording indicates that the astronauts will be performing an important stage in the larger station electrical-upgrade campaign.

A typical solar-array spacewalk can involve several detailed tasks. Astronauts may need to exit through the Quest airlock, translate along handrails to the work site, install or prepare mounting hardware, route cables, attach electrical connections, release restraints, and deploy the array. Ground teams monitor every stage, including suit performance, station power configurations, robotic-arm operations, and the astronauts’ locations.

The work is often coordinated with Canadarm2, the station’s Canadian-built robotic arm. The arm may be used to position equipment or help move an astronaut to a work location. Not every installation follows exactly the same sequence, however, and NASA’s forthcoming briefing should clarify the procedures selected for spacewalks 100 and 101.

The pair of excursions will carry historical numbering. They are set to be the 100th and 101st spacewalks conducted in support of U.S. space station assembly, maintenance, and upgrade activities. That figure reflects decades of work outside the ISS by astronauts from NASA and international partner agencies.

## A Long-Term Upgrade for a Long-Lived Laboratory

The ISS has been continuously inhabited since November 2000. Its value lies not only in its longevity, but also in its ability to host experiments that are difficult or impossible to conduct on Earth.

Microgravity research on the station has supported studies in human health, combustion, fluid physics, materials science, agriculture, Earth observation, and technology development. Commercial companies also use the ISS as a platform to test manufacturing processes and hardware intended for future missions.

Electrical power is central to all of that activity. More available power can support the station’s ongoing scientific operations and provide operational flexibility as systems age and research needs change.

The solar-array upgrades are particularly significant because they help extend the productive usefulness of existing infrastructure. Building and launching a new orbital laboratory would require enormous resources. Modernizing key systems on the ISS allows NASA and its partners to maintain scientific capabilities while planning the transition to future commercial space stations in low Earth orbit.

NASA currently plans to operate the ISS through 2030, subject to agreements with its partners and continued assessments of safety and technical readiness. Power upgrades are one part of the routine but demanding maintenance needed to sustain the station during that period.

## Why Spacewalks Remain Essential

Despite advances in robotics, astronauts are still required for many complex external tasks in orbit. Spacewalking crews can inspect hardware at close range, use specialized tools, manage cables and connectors, and respond to unexpected conditions.

These excursions, formally known as extravehicular activities, are carefully planned and inherently challenging. Astronauts work in pressurized spacesuits that function as miniature spacecraft. The suits supply oxygen, remove carbon dioxide, regulate temperature, provide communications, and protect crews from the vacuum of space.

Preparation begins well before the astronauts leave the airlock. Crew members review procedures, configure tools, check suit systems, and undergo a lengthy pre-breathe protocol intended to reduce the risk of decompression sickness. Mission controllers also consider orbital lighting conditions, station orientation, spacecraft traffic, robotic operations, and the configuration of the electrical system.

A solar-array installation adds another layer of complexity because power hardware must be handled safely and deployed in a way that avoids contact with other station structures.

## What Is Known—and What Is Still Unclear

NASA has confirmed several key points: a public preview briefing is planned for Oct. 20; it will be held from Johnson Space Center; and the two upcoming U.S. spacewalks are intended to complete solar-array installation and ISS power augmentation work.

However, the source summary does not identify the astronauts expected to participate. It also does not state the exact dates of spacewalks 100 and 101, which solar-array positions are involved, or whether weather, vehicle schedules, technical reviews, or other operational factors could affect the timeline.

That uncertainty is normal in human spaceflight. NASA frequently adjusts spacewalk schedules to account for station priorities and spacecraft operations. A news conference gives the agency an opportunity to explain both the mission goals and the latest schedule.

## The Bigger Picture for Low Earth Orbit

The planned spacewalks show that the ISS is still an active engineering project, not simply a passive laboratory. Maintaining a permanently inhabited orbital outpost requires ongoing upgrades, replacement parts, inspections, and international coordination.

The work also provides operational experience for future destinations. NASA’s Artemis program will require crews and ground teams to manage complex operations around the Moon, while commercial low-Earth-orbit stations will need reliable power systems, robotics, and maintenance strategies of their own.

For now, the practical objective is straightforward: ensuring that the ISS continues to have the electrical power needed for science, crew life, and safe operations. Spacewalks 100 and 101 are expected to mark another major milestone in that continuing effort.

## Authority sources (external links):

– [NASA’s announcement on the preview of U.S. spacewalks 100 and 101](https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-to-host-news-conference-previewing-us-spacewalks-100-101/)
– [NASA’s International Space Station overview](https://www.nasa.gov/international-space-station/)
– [NASA Live streaming information](https://www.nasa.gov/live/)
– [NASA information on ISS Roll-Out Solar Arrays](https://www.nasa.gov/missions/station/new-solar-arrays-to-power-international-space-station-research/)
– [European Space Agency overview of the International Space Station](https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/International_Space_Station)

## Internal links (ProductVortex):

– [How the International Space Station generates and stores electricity](https://www.productvortex.com/iss-solar-power-explained/)
– [What astronauts do during an ISS spacewalk](https://www.productvortex.com/iss-spacewalk-guide/)
– [The future of commercial space stations after the ISS](https://www.productvortex.com/commercial-space-stations-future