Maine Astronaut Jessica Meir Preparing for Another Spacewalk

Maine astronaut Jessica Meir is getting ready for another big mission outside the International Space Station.

Meir, who is from Caribou, is scheduled to take part in a spacewalk Tuesday morning as crews work to repair part of the station’s massive robotic arm. The arm, which stretches 57 feet long, plays an important role aboard the International Space Station. It is used to help capture spacecraft that arrive with supplies and equipment for astronauts living and working in orbit, WGME reported.

During Tuesday’s spacewalk, Meir will use a smaller robotic arm to help repair a wrist joint on the larger one. WGME went on to explain that the mission is expected to last about six and a half hours and is scheduled to begin at 8:35 Tuesday morning.

This will mark Meir’s fifth spacewalk. It will also be her second spacewalk alongside fellow NASA astronaut Chris Williams.

Meir is already well known for her work in space and for making history in 2019 when she took part in the first all-female spacewalk. That mission drew attention around the world and helped make Meir one of Maine’s most recognizable connections to NASA and the International Space Station.

Tuesday’s mission will add another major accomplishment to her career as she continues representing both NASA and her home state of Maine from hundreds of miles above Earth.