Russian cosmonauts install sun-watching telescope on ISS during 6-hour spacewalk

space.com May 28, 2026

Russian cosmonauts install sun-watching telescope on ISS during 6-hour spacewalk

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · May 28, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Russian cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev conducted a 6-hour spacewalk outside the International Space Station on May 27, 2026. They installed a solar radiation experiment, including the Solntse-Teragerts telescope, to observe and collect data on strong solar flares. The cosmonauts also removed science hardware from the Poisk and Nauka modules and retrieved a cassette holding semiconducting material. They overcame difficulties, including lost pliers and failed commands, to complete all planned activities. The spacewalk was the second for Kud-Sverchkov and the first for Mikaev, totaling 6 hours and 5 minutes outside the station.

💡 Why It Matters

· The successful installation of the Solntse-Teragerts telescope will enhance scientists' understanding of solar flare activity, improving prediction models.
· The Ekran-M molecular beam epitaxy experiment's ultra-pure films can only be produced in space's microgravity environment.

Capsules Space

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