NASA is set to begin 2026 with significant activities at the ISS … and you can tune in to watch.

      NASA is finalizing its preparations for two upcoming spacewalks at the International Space Station (ISS).

      It has been eight months since the U.S. space agency last sent its astronauts into the unforgiving vacuum of space, generating excitement among ISS enthusiasts for the approaching extravehicular activities.

      The first spacewalk is planned for Thursday, January 8, during which NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman will exit the station through the Quest airlock.

      Their mission involves preparing the 2A power channel for the upcoming installation of roll-out solar arrays. Once these are added, they will enhance the station's power supply, crucial for its safe and controlled deorbit expected around 2030.

      This will be Cardman’s first spacewalk, while Fincke will be completing his 10th, tying him for the record for the most spacewalks conducted by a NASA astronaut.

      A week later, on Thursday, January 15, two other unnamed NASA astronauts will conduct various tasks outside the station. These tasks include replacing a high-definition camera at camera port 3, installing a new navigational aid—a planar reflector—for visiting spacecraft at the Harmony module’s forward port, and relocating an early ammonia servicer jumper along with other jumper assemblies on some of the station’s trusses, as stated on NASA's website.

      These spacewalks will mark the 278th and 279th external activities related to the assembly, maintenance, and upgrades of the space station.

      NASA will broadcast the two spacewalks live on its NASA+ online channel, with specific times to be provided closer to the date. The coverage will feature a range of cameras attached to both the station and the astronauts themselves, allowing viewers to hear the astronauts communicate with Mission Control on Earth, along with NASA's live commentary explaining the events.

      Although NASA astronauts have remained inside the station since May 2025, Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky conducted spacewalks in October that lasted between six and seven hours.

      Recently, NASA astronaut Jonny Kim is set for a return trip to Earth after eight months on the ISS. He will leave the station aboard the Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft alongside Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky.

      In other news, a SpaceX Falcon 9 successfully launched and landed for a record 32nd time on Monday night, beginning its journey from Florida's Space Coast. The Falcon 9 first-stage booster, designated B1067, lifted off at 5:26 p.m. ET from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

      Additionally, with the launch of Artemis II approaching, NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman noted the growing excitement and pressure as they prepare for the mission. In a weekly update from the Johnson Space Center in Texas, he mentioned that the team is just two-and-a-half months away from their first potential launch window, as they continue their training alongside fellow astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency's Jeremy Hansen.