NASA Postpones 2026 Spacewalk Due to Astronaut Medical Concern

NASA announced on January 7, 2026, that it has postponed the first spacewalk of the year due to a medical concern involving a member of the International Space Station (ISS) crew. The spacewalk, originally scheduled for January 8, would have seen two NASA astronauts, Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, conducting critical maintenance tasks outside the orbital facility.

In a brief statement, NASA confirmed that the agency is “monitoring a medical concern with a crew member that arose Wednesday afternoon aboard the orbital complex.” While the situation is reported as stable, the agency refrained from providing specific details due to medical privacy regulations. NASA assured that further information, including a new date for the spacewalk, will be shared in due course.

Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman were set to engage in approximately 6.5 hours of extravehicular activity (EVA), designated as U.S. spacewalk 94. This event was significant for Fincke, who would have achieved the milestone of completing his tenth spacewalk, making him one of only six U.S. astronauts to reach this landmark.

Spacewalk Objectives and Implications

The primary tasks for Fincke and Cardman included preparing the station’s 2A power channel for the imminent installation of the final pair of ISS Roll-Out Solar Arrays (iROSAs). These solar arrays are scheduled to be launched to the station later in 2026. Bill Spetch, operations integration manager for NASA’s ISS Program, stated, “Once this mod kit is complete, we have one more to do… it’s on orbit, waiting to be installed.”

In addition to the power channel preparations, the astronauts were also to undertake a study by swabbing five locations around the Quest airlock to detect microorganisms. Spetch highlighted that this research aims to explore vent locations nearby where atmospheric traffic leaves the ISS.

The next scheduled EVA, U.S. spacewalk 95, is set for January 15, 2026. During this operation, two unnamed NASA astronauts will replace a high-definition camera near port 3, install a new navigational aid called a planar reflector on the Harmony module, and relocate an ammonia service jumper along with other flexible hoses that connect parts of the ISS’s fluid system.

Impact of the Delay on Upcoming Missions

The delay of the first spacewalk raises questions about NASA’s timeline for upcoming activities, particularly concerning the scheduled undocking of a SpaceX Cargo Dragon spacecraft on January 21, 2026. This mission is part of ongoing preparations for the ISS’s eventual decommissioning, anticipated within the next five years.

With the postponement of the January 8 spacewalk, it remains uncertain whether NASA will be able to conduct one or both of the planned EVAs before the Cargo Dragon’s departure. Such developments could impact the overall schedule and logistics of ongoing operations aboard the ISS.

As NASA navigates this situation, the agency continues to prioritize the health and safety of its crew, maintaining a focus on the successful execution of upcoming missions and initiatives.