Cosmonauts conduct first spacewalk in 2026 for science hardware installation on the International Space Station.

On May 27, 2026, cosmonauts installed scientific instruments during the first spacewalk of the year. Their tasks included installing a solar radiation experiment and maintenance of existing hardware.

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NASA (.gov)+1
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Sources: NASA (.gov)
Cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev successfully completed the first spacewalk of 2026 on May 27, which lasted 6 hours, 5 minutes. The duo fulfilled significant objectives, including installing the Solntse-Teragerts telescope, a 50-kilogram instrument designed to monitor solar flares.
During the spacewalk, they also collected vital data, removing a microorganism study and retrieving a cassette from Nauka that contained information on semiconductor materials in microgravity. Additional tasks included photographing a malfunctioning Kurs rendezvous antenna on the Progress 94 cargo spacecraft, which they secured for future operations.
This spacewalk marked the 279th mission supporting the International Space Station's ongoing assembly and upgrades, with both cosmonauts suited up and working outside the station at 17:24 Moscow Time.
Under the mission's oversight, the installation of the telescope and recovery of experiments signify important strides in space research and understanding of life's adaptability in extreme environments.
Both cosmonauts are part of Expedition 74, with this being *Mikaev's first spacewalk*, showcasing continued international collaboration in space exploration.
Sources: NASA (.gov)
Cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev conducted the first spacewalk of 2026, lasting over six hours, to complete science hardware installation on the International Space Station, including a solar radiation experiment and retrieval of previous studies, marking a key advancement in ongoing research in microgravity.
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The Headline

First spacewalk of 2026 completed successfully

Key Facts
  • On May 27, 2026, cosmonauts Sergei Kud'-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev participated in the VKD-66 spacewalk, starting with a hatch opening at 17:18 Moscow Time.1
  • During the spacewalk, the crew installed a 50-kilogram Solntse-Teragerts telescope for monitoring solar flares, which was delivered aboard the Progress MS-33 cargo ship in March 2026.1
  • The cosmonauts finished major objectives, including collecting completed science experiments and installing a new one. They removed a microorganism study from the Poisk module.NASA (.gov)
  • The telescope was successfully installed by the cosmonauts at around 19:00 Moscow Time (12 p.m. EDT).1
  • The cosmonauts were transferred to the Nauka module at around 20:20 Moscow Time (1:20 p.m. EDT).1
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Background Context

Background on spacewalk objectives

Key Facts
  • During the spacewalk, they photographed a failed Kurs rendezvous antenna on the Progress 94 cargo spacecraft and secured it for future operations.NASA (.gov)
  • The crew installed a device on the Zvezda service module to measure bursts of solar radiation from solar flares.NASA (.gov)
  • During the spacewalk, Kud'-Sverchkov and Mikaev switched their suits to internal power at around 17:08–17:10 Moscow Time.1
  • Mikaev exited the Poisk module at around 17:24 Moscow Time, shortly before the ISS entered an orbital sunrise.1
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