A medium-size hard upper torso is a crucial part of the spacesuit astronauts wear outside the International Space Station (ISS). It shapes the chest and shoulders, ensuring a fit that allows the suit to function correctly. In March 2019, a scheduled spacewalk changed due to hardware issues, impacting historical milestones that year, including the first all-female spacewalk.
The March Missed Opportunity
On March 29, 2019, NASA planned for astronauts Christina Koch and Anne McClain to work on upgrading the ISS’s batteries. This assignment gained attention, but it wasn’t meant to be a breakthrough moment. NASA spokesperson Stephanie Schierholz pointed out that the situation was not orchestrated for publicity.
Just days before the event, NASA adjusted the plan. McClain, who had worn the medium torso on a previous walk, decided against switching sizes for safety reasons. Since only one torso was ready, they re-assigned McClain’s slot to Nick Hague for that spacewalk instead of proceeding with the all-female team.
The Historic October Spacewalk
By October 18, 2019, conditions had changed, allowing for a new task: replacing a battery charge-discharge unit that manages how the ISS’s batteries collect solar power. Koch, now experienced from earlier missions, teamed up with Jessica Meir, who hadn’t yet participated in a spacewalk.
When they exited the Quest airlock, it marked a significant moment for women in space. After seven hours and seventeen minutes, Meir became the fifteenth woman to spacewalk, and the historic all-female duo stood as a testament to long-standing achievements. It was 35 years since the first woman, Kathryn Sullivan, performed an EVA.
Koch vividly recalled their experience: “Before we left, our eyes caught each other, and I smiled, knowing how special that moment was.”
Future Spacesuits: A Broader Approach
NASA’s next-generation suit, the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU), promises to eliminate similar issues in the future. Designed with a wider size range, it will accommodate more diverse body types, ensuring no disparities arise that could prevent women or smaller astronauts from participating fully in missions.
In recent years, women astronauts have increasingly become a vital part of space exploration. Even today, out of 600 people who have flown to space, just over 65 are women. But awareness is growing. With social media platforms buzzing with the achievements of women in STEM, there’s hope for broader acceptance and encouragement for girls considering careers in science and technology.
This change mirrors broader societal shifts towards diversity and inclusion, with agencies like NASA taking steps to ensure that the next generation of space explorers can truly represent humanity’s diversity as they venture beyond our planet.
For further details about NASA and its missions, visit their official site here.
