NASA officials are set to brief the public on Thursday about three spacewalks scheduled for next month, highlighting the agency's ongoing work aboard the International Space Station as it presses toward a crewed lunar landing by as early as 2028.
The spacewalks will concentrate on critical upgrades and maintenance of the ISS, including repairs to power systems, communications gear, and other infrastructure that keeps the orbiting laboratory operational. These tasks are essential for supporting the station's current science missions and future crew rotations.
The briefing comes as NASA accelerates preparations for the Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustained human presence on the moon. The most recent mission, Artemis II, carried four astronauts farther into space than any crewed flight in decades, a key step toward returning humans to the lunar surface.
Artemis III, planned for no earlier than late 2027 or 2028, is expected to land astronauts near the moon's south pole, where the agency hopes to build a long-term base. The spacewalks previewed Thursday are part of the broader effort to test technologies and procedures that will be used on those lunar missions.
NASA has emphasized that the ISS remains a vital testbed for deep-space exploration. The upcoming spacewalks will also allow astronauts to install new equipment and conduct experiments that could inform future Artemis operations.
The press conference is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. EDT and will be streamed live. NASA officials are expected to provide detailed timelines for each spacewalk and discuss any challenges the crew may face.
This announcement follows a period of heightened political scrutiny over NASA's budget and timelines. The agency has faced pressure from lawmakers to meet the 2028 moon landing goal, amid broader debates over space policy and federal spending priorities.
The spacewalks are also part of routine maintenance that ensures the ISS remains functional for international partners, including Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada. Any delays or issues could affect ongoing research and the station's operational lifespan, which is currently set to end in 2030.
For now, NASA is focused on the immediate tasks at hand. The Thursday briefing will offer journalists and the public a clear look at what the astronauts will be doing outside the station next month and how those efforts tie into the agency's larger lunar ambitions.
