Astronauts Anil Menon and Sophie Adenot completed a critical spacewalk on August 25, 2026, to replace a faulty Space-to-Ground antenna on the International Space Station (ISS), restoring redundant communication capabilities after a November failure. The 6.5-hour extravehicular activity (EVA) marked Menon’s third spacewalk and Adenot’s second, with Mission Control humorously celebrating the success via a parody of Video Killed the Radio Star.
The repair, conducted during the 283rd ISS EVA, involved swapping a malfunctioning antenna with a spare and relocating the defective unit to a storage location on the station’s backbone truss. The faulty antenna had stopped tracking NASA’s data relays, forcing reliance on a backup system since last November. Houston, we have a working comm link again,
an astronaut reported post-replacement, signaling the operation’s success.
A Historic Duo: Menon’s Third EVA, Adenot’s Second
Anil Menon, a NASA astronaut, reached 19 hours and 20 minutes of total spacewalking time with this mission, while Sophie Adenot, representing the European Space Agency (ESA), increased her EVA experience to 12 hours and 53 minutes. Adenot, the first woman and fifth citizen of France to perform a spacewalk on August 18, described the experience as a true adventure within an adventure,
citing the collaborative spirit of the team. Yeah, what a day,
she said post-EVA, expressing gratitude to pioneers who came before us
and incredible teams working behind the scenes.
The spacewalk began at 8:27 a.m. EDT and concluded at 2:57 p.m. EDT, with Menon operating from the Canadarm2 robotic arm and Adenot navigating handrails. They retrieved the spare antenna from an external stowage position, mounted it on the Z-1 truss, and secured the faulty unit to external stowage platform-3. Initial tests confirmed the new antenna’s functionality, though ground controllers planned overnight evaluations to ensure full reliability.
Mission Control’s Playful Praise
NASA’s Mission Control Center in Houston celebrated the success with a lighthearted nod to pop culture. Astronaut Anne McClain, speaking as CAPCOM, sang a parody of Video Killed the Radio Star,
declaring, On behalf of CAPCOM and I, we're going to count down like a bolt: '3, 2, 1… You just saved the video dish, you just saved the video dish.'
Menon responded with laughter, acknowledging the “hard to top” moment.
The reference to the 1979 Buggles hit underscored the significance of the antenna repair. The replacement work became necessary after the SGANT ceased being able to track NASA’s data and relay satellites, rendering it unusable. I want to thank the entire team on executing this complex, time-critical operation successfully,
Menon said, emphasizing the precision required to maneuver the antenna in microgravity.
A French Milestone and a Legacy of Firsts
Sophie Adenot’s achievements highlight France’s role in space exploration. As the second Frenchwoman in history to fly into space in February, she follows in the footsteps of Claudie Haigneré, while her EVA on August 18 marked the first time a woman and fifth citizen of France to perform a spacewalk. The last French person to walk in space was Thomas Pesquet, who did so six times over two stays aboard the ISS. Adenot’s mission, part of a team of four taking part in a nine-month-long mission, underscores Europe’s continued investment in orbital research and maintenance.
Adenot, an engineer and former test pilot, described the vacuum of space as a true adventure within an adventure,
a sentiment echoed by Menon. The spacewalk’s success re-established redundancy to the system.
What’s Next for the ISS and Its Crew?
The repair marks the sixth outing from the International Space Station this year and the second EVA for Expedition 75. With the antenna restored, flight controllers on the ground will continue testing the antenna overnight to ensure full functionality.
For Adenot, the spacewalk was a personal triumph. My deepest gratitude goes to everyone who made this possible,
she said, reflecting on the collective effort behind the mission. As the ISS continues its role as a hub for international collaboration, this repair exemplifies the precision, teamwork, and adaptability required to sustain human presence in space.
