The term "extravehicular activity" refers to an activity conducted outside a spacecraft by an astronaut equipped with a spacesuit. These activities generally take place in space in orbit around the Earth, near a space station or a space shuttle, and aim to ensure the assembly, maintenance, or repair of these spacecraft.

The Cupola, located on the side of the International Space Station facing the Earth, is a panoramic observation dome that offers astronauts an unobstructed view of the Earth. It is used for maintenance and assembly operations of the Canadarm 2 robotic arm, as well as for the docking of spacecraft. Additionally, the Cupola provides an exceptional visual observation post of the Earth, allowing an operator to remotely control the robotic arm.