Watch Maine astronaut Jessica Meir on her 7th spacewalk
Maine Astronaut Jessica Meir Conducts 7th Spacewalk on the International Space Station
Caribou, Maine – Tuesday’s spacewalk marked the seventh time NASA astronaut Jessica Meir has stepped outside the International Space Station (ISS), putting her in third place among women for total EVA (extravehicular activity) missions on the agency’s record books. The 8‑hour‑plus work outside the station began at 8:40 a.m. local time and was performed with European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot.
The pair were tasked with replacing a retroreflector—a small device used during rendezvous and docking operations—and carrying out a series of routine maintenance tasks to keep the ISS running smoothly. Their objectives also included installing jumper cables that support the station’s data‑relay system, preparing a radiator for future servicing, and swapping out a damaged camera. NASA said the mission was part of a larger schedule of upgrades and checks that keep the orbital laboratory at the forefront of scientific research and engineering.
Meir, who has flown to the station twice before, led the 2026 SpaceX Crew‑12 mission and logged 205 days aboard the ISS during her 2019 expedition, which included the first all‑female spacewalk in history. The 37‑year‑old, a native of Caribou, has been an astronaut since 2013 and was the first woman from Maine to travel to space.
The European partner, Sophie Adenot, joined Meir for the EVA and was scheduled to perform the same set of maintenance tasks, helping to ensure that the station’s navigation and communication systems remain reliable.
The EVA lasted a little over six hours, bringing Meir to a total of seven spacewalks. NASA’s record shows that Peggy Whitson leads all‑time female EVA counts with ten, followed by Suni Williams with nine. Meir’s achievement places her only two walks behind Whitson and one ahead of Williams, solidifying her place among the most experienced women in space.
Viewers who wanted to watch the live action could stream the EVA on NASA’s website, YouTube, Amazon Prime, Discovery+, or the NASA+ channel. The mission was also reported back to Earth by the ISS crew, who described the tasks as routine but essential for the long‑term health of the station.
In addition to the technical work, the EVA offered a chance for the astronauts to enjoy the breathtaking view of Earth, a reminder of why the ISS continues to be an international laboratory for science and collaboration.
The ISS crew will continue their scheduled operations, with plans for future maintenance and experiments, while the international partnership that keeps the station operational demonstrates the ongoing commitment of NASA and its European partners to space exploration and research.
