Maine astronaut Jessica Meir to embark on 7th spacewalk

Maine Astronaut Jessica Meir to Go Out in Space for Seventh Time

Caribou, Maine – NASA announced Tuesday that astronaut Jessica Meir, a resident of Caribou, will step out of the International Space Station (ISS) for her seventh spacewalk. The mission will see Meir and European Space Agency (ESA) flight engineer Sophie Adenot perform critical maintenance on the orbiting laboratory.

The EVA will begin at about 8:30 a.m. local time and is expected to last more than six hours. Viewers can follow the event live on NASA’s website, YouTube, Amazon Prime, Discovery+, and NASA+. A livestream of the launch and EVA preparations will start at 7 a.m.

Meir’s tasks include replacing a retroreflector that assists the ISS in rendezvous and docking operations, installing jumper cables to support data‑relay systems, prepping a radiator for future servicing, and swapping out a camera. The work is part of routine upkeep that keeps the station operating safely and efficiently.

The spacewalk will elevate Meir to third place in NASA’s all‑time list of spacewalks by women. Peggy Whitson leads with ten, followed by Suni Williams with nine.

Meir, who joined NASA’s astronaut corps in 2013, has spent two missions aboard the ISS. She launched on February 4th on SpaceX Crew‑12, marking her second trip to the station. Her first mission, launched in 2019, lasted 205 days and included the historic first all‑female EVA when she and fellow astronaut Jessica Polhemus stepped outside the station for the first time.

As the first woman from Maine to travel to space, Meir’s continued presence on the ISS underscores the state’s growing representation in the aerospace community. The spacewalk scheduled for Tuesday will not only keep the station in good repair but also add to the legacy of women’s achievements in human spaceflight.

The International Space Station remains a vital hub for scientific research and international cooperation. Each EVA is carefully planned to address maintenance needs while allowing astronauts to conduct experiments and monitor the station’s systems.

Maine residents can follow the EVA live and watch how Meir’s experience on the ISS continues to inspire future generations of explorers.