Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, currently on a long-term stay at the International Space Station (ISS), is scheduled to be involved in a task outside of the spacecraft from Tuesday evening, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced Thursday.
For the 52-year-old Hoshide, the spacewalk would mark his fourth participation in what is referred to as an "extravehicular activity," tying him for most among Japanese astronauts with Soichi Noguchi.
Hoshide was last involved in such an activity about nine years ago during a previous stay on the ISS in 2012. According to JAXA, Hoshide will work with an American astronaut to install frames for a new type of solar panel. The spacewalk is expected to take about 6 hours 50 minutes.
Noguchi, 56, has engaged in the longest combined time of extravehicular activities among Japanese astronauts, at 27 hours 1 minute. If Hoshide's task goes as scheduled, he will surpass Noguchi's record.
Hoshide has been on the ISS since April. He became the second Japanese commander of an ISS mission following Koichi Wakata, 58. Hoshide is scheduled to return to Earth this autumn.
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