NASA disappoints, cancels first all-women spacewalk citing lack of spacesuits

NASA’s historic all-female spacewalk on March 29 is not going to take place. Astronauts Annie McClain and Christian Koch who were supposed to conduct the spacewalk will not be moving ahead with it since Annie has been replaced with Nick Hague for the walk, which is part of NASA’s Expedition 59.

Lack of spacesuits and not having it ready on time for a historic mission are classic examples of the challenges women still need to confront at the workplace.

A press release by NASA states, “Koch had been scheduled to conduct this spacewalk with astronaut McClain, in what would have been the first all-female spacewalk. However, after consulting with McClain and Hague following the first spacewalk, mission managers decided to adjust the assignments, due in part to spacesuit availability on the station. McClain learned during her first spacewalk that a medium-size hard upper torso – essentially the shirt of the spacesuit – fits her best. Because only one medium-size torso can be made ready by Friday, March 29, Koch will wear it.”

This would have been Annie McClain’s and Christina Koch’s first time in space. In 1984, Svetlana Savitskya was the first woman to walk in space. Thirty-five years later, dreams of witnessing history have been thwarted because of lack of a spacesuit.

There is mass outrage over the cancellation of the all-female spacewalk and social media is leaving no stone unturned to take a dig at NASA. In its defence NASA tweeted:

It is a disappointing moment for millions, especially for women and young girls who want to work in this sector and become astronauts.

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