Historic Moment: NASA’s Astronauts Complete the 5th All-Female Spacewalk Outside the Space Station!

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA astronaut Anne McClain finally had her chance to participate in an all-female spacewalk, six years after she missed out due to a spacesuit sizing issue. On Thursday, McClain and fellow astronaut Nichole Ayers floated from the International Space Station (ISS) to complete vital tasks.

Both McClain and Ayers, military officers and pilots, launched to the ISS in March to replace two astronauts who had returned to Earth. Just before the spacewalk, McClain spotted some loose threads on her glove, prompting a brief pause to ensure everything was secure.

During their nearly six-hour mission, the astronauts prepared the station for new solar panels and relocated an antenna. Upon their return, the ISS commander, Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi, welcomed them back with a warm remark, “We are so happy to have you back, and your dinner is ready so don’t worry about it.”

This spacewalk came after adjustments to the ISS’s orbit to avoid debris from an old Chinese rocket.

McClain, an Army colonel and helicopter pilot, should have joined the first all-female spacewalk in 2019, which was instead conducted by Christina Koch and Jessica Meir. McClain’s achievement this time marks the fifth all-female spacewalk in history, a notable feat in the 60 years since humans first ventured into space.

Looking ahead, Koch is set to become the first woman to fly to the moon next year as part of NASA’s Artemis program. Despite these advancements, men continue to outnumber women in NASA’s astronaut ranks. Currently, of NASA’s 47 active astronauts, only 20 are women. McClain and Ayers were the only two female astronauts among the seven currently in space.

This shift towards greater female representation in space exploration is significant. As space missions evolve and new opportunities arise, the increasing presence of women like McClain and Koch brings fresh perspectives and potential innovations to the field.

For more information about NASA’s Artemis program and advances in space exploration, visit NASA.

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Aerospace technology, Nichole Ayers, Anne McClain, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Space exploration, Spacecraft, Aerospace and defense industry, Jessica Meir, Science, Takuya Onishi