Russian Cosmonauts Conduct 5-Hour Spacewalk Outside ISS

Two Russian cosmonauts embarked on a significant five-hour spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday, May 27, 2026. Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, commander of the ISS's current Expedition 74 mission, and flight engineer Sergei Mikaev, both representing the Russian space agency Roscosmos, began their extravehicular activity (EVA) at approximately 10:15 a.m. EDT (1415 GMT). Live coverage of the spacewalk was made available, allowing space enthusiasts worldwide to witness the event.

During their time outside the orbiting laboratory, Kud-Sverchkov and Mikaev were tasked with installing a solar radiation experiment onto the Zvezda service module. Additionally, they were scheduled to remove other science hardware from the Poisk and Nauka modules, which are part of the ISS's Roscosmos segment. This mission marks the second spacewalk for Kud-Sverchkov, while it is the first for Mikaev, signifying a key milestone in his spaceflight career. To distinguish between the two astronauts during the spacewalk, Kud-Sverchkov's spacesuit was marked with red stripes, and Mikaev's with blue stripes.

Progress and Potential Challenges

Beyond the primary objectives, the cosmonauts also had a contingency task: photographing one of the Kurs rendezvous antennas on the Progress 94 cargo spacecraft. This antenna had reportedly failed to deploy correctly in March following its launch to the station. The ability to complete this photography would depend on whether time permitted within the scheduled five-hour window. This spacewalk represents the second EVA to take place outside the ISS in 2026. The first occurred on March 18, when NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Chris Williams conducted a seven-hour spacewalk aimed at preparing the station for the installation of a new solar array.

The ISS, a collaborative project involving multiple space agencies, has been continuously inhabited since November 2, 2000. Throughout its operational history, astronauts have performed a total of 278 spacewalks. These excursions are critical for station maintenance, upgrades, and scientific experiments that require direct human intervention in the vacuum of space. Each spacewalk is meticulously planned, with astronauts undergoing extensive training to prepare for the demanding and potentially hazardous environment outside the station.

The scientific experiments conducted during spacewalks contribute valuable data to various fields, from materials science to biology. The installation of the solar radiation experiment by Kud-Sverchkov and Mikaev, for instance, will likely provide crucial insights into the effects of space radiation on different materials and equipment, information vital for future long-duration space missions. The ongoing operations and maintenance activities, including those performed by cosmonauts from different nations, underscore the international cooperation that defines the ISS program. This collaborative spirit is essential for pushing the boundaries of human exploration and scientific discovery in space.