How one failed antenna turned a spacewalk into a two-stage repair
Sophie Adenot and Anil Menon completed a six-hour, 23-minute spacewalk on August 18 but could not install the planned replacement antenna.
The astronauts removed the failed Space-To-Ground antenna 2, which had been unable to track the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite constellation since November 2025.[5] Stuck bolts and connectors delayed the work, so the crew secured the removed antenna to the station and deferred installation of it…
The astronauts removed the failed Space-To-Ground antenna 2, which had been unable to track the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite constellation since November 2025.[5] Stuck bolts and connectors delayed the work, so the crew secured the removed antenna to the station and deferred installation of its spare to a future spacewalk.[2][5]
Why it matters: The repair illustrates how unexpected mechanical resistance can split an orbital-maintenance task across multiple spacewalks, while station research and life-support work must continue around the intervention.[2][5]
Key insights: The antenna was secured with a long-duration tie-down on the International Space Station’s Z1 truss segment.[2] | The spacewalk was Adenot’s first and the first conducted by a French woman.[5] | After the spacewalk, crew research included blood tests, vein scans and blood-pressure measurements for the Venus Flow investigation into space-related blood-flow risks.[2]
Cheatsheet facts: What changed: The failed antenna was removed, but its spare was not installed as planned.[5] | Why now: Stuck bolts and connectors consumed time during the six-hour, 23-minute spacewalk.[5] | Watch next: Installation of the spare antenna during a future spacewalk.[2]
The astronauts removed the failed Space-To-Ground antenna 2, which had been unable to track the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite constellation since November 2025.[5] Stuck bolts and connectors delayed the work, so the crew secured the removed antenna to the station and deferred installation of its spare to a future spacewalk.[2][5]
Why it matters: The repair illustrates how unexpected mechanical resistance can split an orbital-maintenance task across multiple spacewalks, while station research and life-support work must continue around the intervention.[2][5]
Key insights: The antenna was secured with a long-duration tie-down on the International Space Station’s Z1 truss segment.[2] | The spacewalk was Adenot’s first and the first conducted by a French woman.[5] | After the spacewalk, crew research included blood tests, vein scans and blood-pressure measurements for the Venus Flow investigation into space-related blood-flow risks.[2]
Cheatsheet facts: What changed: The failed antenna was removed, but its spare was not installed as planned.[5] | Why now: Stuck bolts and connectors consumed time during the six-hour, 23-minute spacewalk.[5] | Watch next: Installation of the spare antenna during a future spacewalk.[2]
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