NASA postpones spacewalk plans after a medical concern emerged aboard the International Space Station. The agency confirmed that the Jan. 8 extravehicular activity was called off as a precaution.
The spacewalk had been scheduled for Thursday morning at around 8:00 a.m. EST. Astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman were set to exit the ISS for a mission lasting approximately six and a half hours.
According to NASA, the decision was made after a medical issue surfaced Wednesday afternoon. The concern involves one crew member, though their identity was not disclosed.
NASA stated that medical privacy rules prevent further details from being shared. Officials emphasized that the situation remains stable and under close observation.
A new date for the Jan. 8 ISS spacewalk has not yet been announced. NASA indicated that additional information will be released once available.
If completed, the EVA would mark a milestone for both astronauts. The mission would be Cardman’s first spacewalk and Fincke’s tenth.
Fincke is poised to match the current NASA record for most spacewalks by an astronaut. Five American astronauts currently share that record with ten EVAs each.
Those astronauts include Bob Behnken, Stephen Bowen, Chris Cassidy, Michael Lopez-Alegria, and Peggy Whitson. The global record stands higher, with 16 spacewalks performed by Russian cosmonaut Anatoly Solovyev.
The postponed Jan. 8 spacewalk was intended to prepare one of the ISS power channels. The work supports the future installation of a new Roll-Out Solar Array, known as iROSA.
Once installed, the new array is expected to increase available power aboard the station. The upgrade also supports critical systems tied to the ISS’s long-term deorbit plan.
NASA’s preview outlined specific crew assignments for the EVA. Fincke was designated as crewmember one and planned to wear a suit marked with red stripes.
Cardman, assigned as crewmember two, was scheduled to wear an unmarked spacesuit. These assignments remain unchanged pending rescheduling.
NASA is also planning another ISS spacewalk later this month. That mission is currently targeted for Jan. 15.
During the upcoming EVA, two NASA astronauts will replace a high-definition camera. They will also install a new navigational aid for visiting spacecraft.
Once completed, the two spacewalks will become the first EVAs of 2026. They will also represent the 278th and 279th spacewalks in the ISS program’s history.
