Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk reflects on Earth view during seven-hour ISS spacewalk

Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk and NASA astronaut Anil Menon completed a seven-hour spacewalk on Thursday, installing seven of eight new solar panels on the International Space Station. The work, performed in both darkness and direct sunlight, was described by Kutryk as a "sensory overload" and a "very confusing" experience while viewing the planet below.

"Your mind doesn't know what to do with that image," Kutryk said, adding that seeing Earth from orbit made him feel "very small" and "almost insignificant."

Kutryk, the fifth Canadian to conduct a spacewalk, said the view prompted him to consider his future decisions more carefully. He noted that observing the blue planet reinforced a sense of its beauty and fragility.

The new solar panels, combined with existing arrays, are expected to increase the station’s power generation capacity by up to 30 percent, addressing the reduced efficiency of the original panels on the nearly 30-year-old station.

Canadian Space Agency officials highlighted the mission’s significance. Mathieu Caron, director of the agency’s astronauts, life sciences and space medicine directorate, said the achievement relied on Canada’s long-term involvement in space exploration. Former Canadian spacewalker David Saint-Jacques, who led a news conference at the agency’s Longueuil headquarters, called Kutryk a role model for youth.

Kutryk’s next scheduled spacewalk, set for next week, will involve installing the eighth solar panel, with continued support from the agency’s robotics team in Longueuil.