Astronauts just gave the International Space Station a powerful upgrade

NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk installed the seventh International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Array (IROSA) during a 7-hour, 11-minute spacewalk. The work completed on the station's 2A electrical power channel adds electricity for station operations and eventual safe deorbit.

This was the 285th spacewalk conducted to support the station. Menon completed his fourth spacewalk. Kutryk flew his first.

The two astronauts also prepared hardware for a second spacewalk scheduled for November 5, when the eighth and final IROSA will deploy on the station's 3B power channel.

Once complete, the eight new arrays will increase the station's available power by as much as 30 percent. Electricity generation capacity will rise from 160 kilowatts to approximately 215 kilowatts.