All-Female Spacewalk Makes History Aboard the International Space Station
Two NASA astronauts, Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, recently embarked on a significant mission outside the International Space Station (ISS), marking only the fifth time in history that an all-female spacewalk has been conducted. The momentous event unfolded on Thursday, May 1st, as the two spacefarers emerged from the confines of the orbiting laboratory around 9 a.m. Eastern Time and ventured into the vacuum of space.
Both McClain and Ayers are accomplished military officers and pilots, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to their roles as NASA astronauts. Their five-hour and 44-minute sojourn outside the ISS involved performing a series of critical tasks aimed at maintaining and upgrading the station’s infrastructure.
The astronauts’ journey to the ISS was part of the SpaceX Crew-10 mission, which successfully delivered them and two other astronauts to the station in March. Their arrival facilitated the departure of NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who had been aboard the ISS as part of the ill-fated Boeing Starliner mission.
NASA provided a live broadcast of the May 1st spacewalk, allowing the public to witness this historic event in real-time. The spacewalk, formally known as extra-vehicular activity (EVA) in space agency terminology, refers to any task undertaken by an astronaut outside of a spacecraft or space station. These missions require astronauts to wear specialized spacesuits to protect them from the harsh conditions of outer space.
Anne McClain, a 45-year-old native of Spokane, Washington, is a veteran astronaut with a distinguished record of service. This spacewalk was her third, adding to her prior experience of 13 hours and 8 minutes spent conducting spacewalks during her first 204-day spaceflight between 2018 and 2019. During the recent spacewalk, McClain wore a spacesuit adorned with red stripes.
For Nichole Ayers, a 36-year-old from San Diego, California, this spacewalk marked her first venture outside the ISS. Selected as an astronaut in 2022, Ayers is currently on her first spaceflight. She wore an unmarked spacesuit during the mission.
The SpaceX Crew-10 missions, contracted under NASA, are typically six-month expeditions to the space station where astronauts dedicate their time to conducting scientific experiments. However, this particular mission held added importance due to its role in enabling the return of NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who had arrived at the ISS in June aboard the troubled Starliner spacecraft. The Starliner mission encountered several issues, delaying the astronauts’ return to Earth.
The May 1st spacewalk holds a special place in history as the fifth all-female spacewalk ever conducted. The first such spacewalk took place in 2019, when astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir made history by becoming the first women to venture outside the ISS together. The most recent all-female spacewalk before the current mission was in November 2023, when Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara performed maintenance tasks on the station’s exterior.
During their time outside the ISS, Ayers and McClain accomplished several important objectives. They installed a mounting bracket to prepare for the installation of a new set of solar panels, which will provide additional power to the space station. They also relocated a space station communications antenna and installed a pair of jumper cables, as confirmed by NASA.
The article also highlights the achievements of astronaut Suni Williams, who earlier this year made history for women astronauts during her ninth spacewalk on January 30th. Accompanied by fellow Starliner crew member Butch Wilmore, Williams surpassed the record for the most cumulative time spent by any woman in the vacuum of space.
After spending more than six hours outside the space station with Wilmore, Williams now boasts a total of 62 hours and 6 minutes conducting spacewalks. Only three other individuals in the world have accumulated more time on spacewalks than Williams.
The previous record of 60 hours and 21 minutes was held by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, who set the benchmark in 2017. Whitson’s career included 10 spacewalks, which remains the highest number ever performed by a woman, according to NASA.
This most recent all-female spacewalk serves as a testament to the growing role of women in space exploration and highlights their contributions to maintaining and upgrading the International Space Station. It also underscores the importance of international collaboration in space, as astronauts from various countries work together to advance our understanding of the universe and push the boundaries of human exploration.
The completion of this spacewalk not only ensures the continued operation of the ISS, but also inspires future generations of scientists, engineers, and astronauts, particularly young women, to pursue careers in STEM fields and to dream of reaching for the stars. The dedication, skill, and courage displayed by astronauts like Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers serve as an inspiration to us all and demonstrate the immense potential of human exploration.
