Canadian Astronaut Poses for Photo Above South Atlantic During ISS Solar Array Spacewalk

Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk took a break from maintenance work during an Oct. 29, 2026 spacewalk to pose for a photograph, with Earth visible far below him, Space reports. At the time, the International Space Station was traveling roughly 267 miles (430 kilometers) above the South Atlantic Ocean. The image was featured by Space as its photo of the day for Nov. 5, 2026.

Why it matters

The picture is a light moment in what is otherwise demanding technical work. Spacewalks require astronauts to operate in a harsh orbital environment, where the margin for error is small and risks are constant, according to Space. Even routine maintenance tasks carry that pressure, the outlet notes. The Oct. 29 excursion was also the first spacewalk by a Canadian since 2019, Space reports.

Solar array work continues

During the Oct. 29 outing, Kutryk worked alongside NASA astronaut Anil Menon to install a new roll-out solar array on the station. The pair also carried out additional tasks meant to prepare for the next spacewalk, which took place on Nov. 5. On that excursion, the same two astronauts were scheduled to install the eighth and final roll-out solar array, according to Space.

NASA officials say the eight new arrays together will raise the station's available power by 30 percent, Space reports. The Nov. 5 spacewalk was described in NASA and other outlet coverage as the agency's 101st ISS spacewalk, with the goal of boosting station power by that same 30 percent margin.

A job that includes the station itself

Spacewalks are often associated with science, but the station's crew also maintains the orbiting laboratory itself. Astronauts conduct research spanning biomedical studies, plant science and physics experiments, yet their duties extend to repairs and upgrades on the hardware that keeps the outpost running. Some spacewalks are launched to address urgent problems, while others, like the Oct. 29 outing, involve planned maintenance and installation work.

What to watch: whether the final roll-out solar array is confirmed installed and how the completed set of eight affects the station's power supply.