The 74 expedition members aboard the International Space Station (ISS) are preparing for an important spacewalk to advance microgravity research. NASA flight engineers Jessica Meyer and Chris Williams prepared spacesuits in the Quest airlock, cleaned cooling loops and reviewed procedures for the March 18 extravehicular activity (EVA). They will perform kit modifications and install route cables for the seventh roll-out solar array, increasing ISS power capacity. Meanwhile, Jack Hathaway and ESA’s Sophie Adenot test EchoFinder-2, an AI-augmented reality ultrasound device in the Columbus module that autonomously scans organs to reduce reliance on Earth for distant missions. NASA further reported that Roscosmos astronauts Sergei Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev monitored vascular health with sensors, while Andrey Fadeyev maintained the oxygen generator and water systems. Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL opens for re-entry into the Pacific via Canadarm2 on March 12, after delivering 11,000 pounds of cargo through September 2025. These efforts are a mix of maintenance and science, fueling the president’s deep space ambitions as part of the Artemis push. Live coverage across all NASA platforms begins at 6:45 a.m. EDT.
Spacewalk preparations on the international space station
NASA flight engineers Jessica Meir and Chris Williams are leading the charge for the upcoming spacewalk on March 18. Inside the Quest airlock, the two carefully cleaned the cooling loops on their spacesuits, refilled water components, and inspected the helmets to ensure everything worked flawlessly during the six-and-a-half-hour extravehicular activity (EVA). Their mission? To install a modification kit and route cables on the port side of the ISS for a future roll-out solar array, the seventh such array to boost the station’s power output. As posted on their This spacewalk highlights the ongoing upgrades keeping the ISS operational amid its aging infrastructure.Veteran astronaut Jessica Meyer, with her experience from previous EVAs, pairs seamlessly with Chris Williams, who has been adapting to station life since November. Their teamwork at the Quest Airlock not only prepared the hardware but also reviewed critical emergency procedures for the harsh vacuum of space. Augmented reality and AI in space health screeningInnovation is not just outside the station, it is thriving inside as well. Flight engineer Jack Hathaway of NASA and Sophie Adenot of the European Space Agency (ESA) conducted an augmented-reality-guided ultrasound scan using the EchoFinder-2 device in the Columbus laboratory module. They took pictures of each other’s abdomens and vascular systems, with AI analyzing the data to automatically identify the organs. An ESA report on the technology explains, “EcoFinder-2 opens the door to autonomous ultrasound using minimal training and low-tech hardware for space missions, reducing the reliance on Earth-based experts critical for future Mars trips where signal delays stretch up to 20 minutes. Adenote, on his first mission since February 2026, and Hathaway, a U.S. Navy captain with more than 2,500 flight hours, swapped roles to test the system’s reliability in weightlessness. Meanwhile, NASA’s blog further reports that Roscosmos astronauts Sergei Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev monitored circulatory health with blood pressure cuffs and sensors on the forehead, fingers and toes. Data sent to the laptop helps doctors track microgravity’s effects on vascular systems, from fluid changes to possible clots. Flight engineer Andrey Fadeyev kept life support running, servicing the electron oxygen generator in the Zvezda module and purifying water tanks to protect the crew’s supplies.
Cygnus cargo spacecraft departing from the ISS
Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft is expected to undock on March 12, after a six-month stay beginning September 18, 2025. Loaded with trash and experiments, it will be grabbed by the Canadarm2 robotic arm from the Unity module and released for a fiery reentry over the South Pacific. The mission delivered more than 11,000 pounds of supplies, hardware and science payload under NASA’s Commercial Replenishment Service program. “Cygnus XL, operated by Northrop Grumman, is scheduled to depart the ISS on Thursday, March 12,” Space Coast Daily confirms, with live coverage beginning at 6:45 a.m. EDT on NASA+.Sophie Adenot will oversee Cygnus’ systems post-release, ensuring a smooth exit. This departure clears the docking port for future missions, maintaining the ISS’s role as a springboard for deep space ambitions.
Expedition 74 Crew: Pioneering Spacewalk
Expedition 74, running from December 2025, combines NASA, ESA and Roscosmos expertise for research in biology, physics and human physiology. From solar array upgrades powering the outposts of tomorrow to AI diagnostics paving the way for autonomous medicine, these activities captivate global audiences.As President Trump’s administration sets its sights on Artemis and beyond, the ISS remains Earth’s orbiting laboratory, where changes like turning on today’s solar arrays provide sustainable power for an expanded human presence in space. Watch the action live and witness history happening 400km above us.