NASA will provide live coverage of U.S. Spacewalks 94 and 95 at the International Space Station, marking the start of 2026 with critical upgrades to the orbiting laboratory. The two extravehicular activities are scheduled as the latest in a series of U.S. spacewalks that aim to enhance station infrastructure ahead of future missions, with a particular focus on preparing for new hardware installations that build directly on recent maintenance work.
Announcement of Coverage Plans
NASA has formally announced that it will broadcast U.S. Spacewalks 94 and 95 in real time, with live video, audio from the astronauts, and expert commentary from mission control in Houston. According to the agency’s detailed coverage notice, viewers will be able to follow the operations through a dedicated stream that is outlined in the NASA to Cover US Spacewalks 94, 95 at International Space Station announcement, which specifies the planned start times, expected duration of each spacewalk, and how to access the feed on NASA’s primary digital platforms.
The coverage plan reflects a shift from earlier phases of preparation that were handled largely inside the station and out of public view, toward a more accessible, real-time window into the work of the U.S. segment. NASA’s decision to highlight these activities as they happen, rather than only summarizing them after completion, underscores the operational stakes for the International Space Station partners and gives researchers, educators, and the broader public a direct look at how critical hardware upgrades are executed in orbit.
Objectives for Spacewalk 94
Spacewalk 94 is framed as a targeted upgrade operation focused on installing and replacing specific components that support long-term station operations, including systems that prepare the exterior of the complex for new hardware. Reporting on the early 2026 plan for the U.S. segment explains that the first of the two excursions is structured to tackle the most time-sensitive tasks, with astronauts methodically routing cables, repositioning mounting brackets, and configuring interfaces that will be needed for subsequent equipment deployments, all of which are described as part of NASA’s push to keep the station’s infrastructure aligned with upcoming mission demands.
The crew assignments and task breakdown for this first outing are detailed in coverage of how NASA begins 2026 with spacewalks 94 and 95 for upgrades to the International Space Station, which outlines the roles each spacewalker will play in handling tools, managing tethers, and coordinating with robotics support from inside the station. That reporting emphasizes that the equipment handling procedures, including the sequence for moving large components along the station’s exterior and securing them at work sites, are designed to address immediate 2026 priorities, in contrast to 2025’s heavier focus on diagnostics and inspections that primarily assessed the health of existing systems rather than preparing for new installations.
Objectives for Spacewalk 95
Spacewalk 95 is planned as a direct continuation of the work started during Spacewalk 94, turning the groundwork laid in the first excursion into fully realized hardware and system enhancements. According to scheduling details on US Spacewalks scheduled on International Space Station, the second outing is structured to complete the connection of new components, finalize cable runs, and verify that upgraded interfaces are ready to support future payloads and power-hungry systems, creating a seamless progression from initial setup to operational readiness.
The hardware and system changes expected during Spacewalk 95 are described as part of a broader upgrade path that benefits not only the U.S. segment but also international partners that rely on shared power, data, and structural resources across the station. By finishing tasks that build on the achievements of Spacewalk 94, the second spacewalk is intended to reduce the need for additional short-notice maintenance outings later in the year, which in turn gives partner agencies more predictable windows for their own experiments and visiting vehicles that depend on a stable and well-characterized station configuration.
Broader Implications for ISS Upgrades
The twin spacewalks are being treated as early pillars of the International Space Station’s 2026 upgrade campaign, with NASA highlighting how the work supports improvements to power distribution, external mounting locations, and other systems that underpin life support and scientific operations. In its coverage notice, the agency links the timing of Spacewalks 94 and 95 to an accelerated strategy for keeping the orbiting complex ready for new instruments and technology demonstrations, a strategy that is reflected in the detailed broadcast schedule and task descriptions laid out in the NASA coverage announcement for US Spacewalks 94 and 95, which stresses that these activities are part of a coordinated sequence rather than isolated maintenance events.
Context from the long history of the International Space Station shows why these upgrades matter for the program’s future. The station, described in depth in the reference on the International Space Station (ISS) facts, missions, and history, has evolved from an assembly project into a mature research platform that depends on periodic external work to sustain its role as a hub for microgravity science and international cooperation. By aligning Spacewalks 94 and 95 with that evolution, NASA is signaling that the 2026 upgrades are not only about keeping existing systems running, but also about extending the station’s capacity to host new experiments and support future missions that will rely on a robust and adaptable orbital infrastructure.
