Two Roscosmos cosmonauts are scheduled to conduct a spacewalk outside the International Space Station on Wednesday, May 27, to perform essential maintenance and scientific upgrades. Expedition 74 commander Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and flight engineer Sergei Mikaev will venture outside the orbiting laboratory to install a new solar radiation experiment on the Zvezda service module. The mission is expected to last approximately five hours, with operations beginning around 10:15 a.m. EDT.

In addition to the solar experiment, the duo is tasked with removing various pieces of science hardware from the station’s Poisk and Nauka modules. If the timeline permits, the cosmonauts will also inspect and photograph a Kurs rendezvous antenna on a Progress 94 cargo spacecraft, which experienced deployment issues following its arrival at the station in March. This operation marks the 279th spacewalk dedicated to the assembly, maintenance, and ongoing upgrades of the International Space Station.

This mission represents a significant milestone for the crew, serving as the second spacewalk for Kud-Sverchkov and the first for Mikaev. To distinguish the two during the operation, Kud-Sverchkov will be outfitted in a spacesuit featuring red stripes, while Mikaev will wear a suit marked with blue stripes. The public can follow the progress of the mission through live broadcasts provided by space agency digital platforms.