Astronauts Jessica Meir and Christina Koch made history today as they completed the first all-female spacewalk to replace a failed power controller. NASA is hosting a live stream on their site, and celebrating “the first #AllWomanSpacewalk in human history!” (#AllWomanSpacewalk is trending on Twitter.)
LIVE NOW: Tune in to watch the first #AllWomanSpacewalk in human history! 👩🏻🚀
Starting at approximately 7:50am ET, @Astro_Christina & @Astro_Jessica venture into the vacuum of space to replace a failed power controller. Watch: https://t.co/2SIb9YXlRh
— NASA (@NASA) October 18, 2019
In March 2019, NASA nearly had an all-female spacewalk by accident, when an aborted rocket launch shifted the astronauts’ schedules. But the spacewalk never happened: NASA discovered that they didn’t have enough spacesuits to fit both women. (In other words, they only had one spacesuit that fit their female astronauts.) The announcement of an all-female spacewalk had been met with more interest than expected, and backlash for the spacesuit fumble was swift. 7 months later, NASA solved its suit problem and prepared for a second attempt.
Meir tweeted this: “Gearing up for Friday’s spacewalk to help the ground teams repair one of the battery channels with @Astro_Christina. . . . first spacesuit selfie, check! Photos will be much more spectacular once we pass through the hatch.”
Gearing up for Friday’s spacewalk to help the ground teams repair one of the battery channels with @Astro_Christina.
. . . first spacesuit selfie, check!✔️
Photos will be much more spectacular once we pass through the hatch. Be sure to watch live: https://t.co/8ggAQFbzAhpic.twitter.com/oXUDnDvLLY
— Jessica Meir (@Astro_Jessica) October 16, 2019
Fellow astronaut Andrew Morgan also tweeted his support: “So proud of my astrosisters @Astro_Christina and @Astro_Jessica! We’ve been training together since our selection in 2013, and now they’re out on a history-making spacewalk! #AllWomanSpacewalk.”
So proud of my astrosisters @Astro_Christina and @Astro_Jessica! We’ve been training together since our selection in 2013, and now they’re out on a history-making spacewalk! #AllWomanSpacewalkpic.twitter.com/zjMGDJ5tae
— Astronaut Andrew “Drew” Morgan (@AstroDrewMorgan) October 18, 2019
NASA will be posting periodic updates and posted earlier: “At 7:38 am ET, our #AllWomanSpacewalk officially started as @Astro_Christina & @Astro_Jessica set their spacesuits to battery power, marking the beginning of their 5.5 hour excursion outside of the @Space_Station to replace a failed power controller.”
Later, they added: “Here’s how to keep track of who you’re seeing: @Astro_Christina — red stripes on spacesuit & helmet number 18. @Astro_Jessica — no stripes on spacesuit & helmet number 11.”
At 7:38am ET, our #AllWomanSpacewalk officially started as @Astro_Christina & @Astro_Jessica set their spacesuits to battery power, marking the beginning of their 5.5 hour excursion outside of the @Space_Station to replace a failed power controller. Watch: https://t.co/2SIb9YXlRh
— NASA (@NASA) October 18, 2019
As you watch today’s #AllWomanSpacewalk, here’s how to keep track of who you’re seeing:
🔴 @Astro_Christina – red stripes on spacesuit & helmet number 18
⚪️ @Astro_Jessica – no stripes on spacesuit & helmet number 11Watch & ask questions using #AskNASA: https://t.co/2SIb9YXlRh
— NASA (@NASA) October 18, 2019
NASA also shared key details on a third badass female astronaut involved in the #AllWomanSpacewalk: Stephanie Wilson, who’s handling things from Mission Control.
Who's talking to the astronauts from Mission Control during today's #AllWomanSpacewalk? That's astronaut Stephanie Wilson, who has spent 42 days in space over 3 spaceflights! https://t.co/ed1NhscjIdpic.twitter.com/AKK3di55Id
— NASA (@NASA) October 18, 2019
The spacewalk is scheduled to last 5.5 hours wrapping up around 1:08 pm ET. Until then, NASA will be streaming, updating, and fans will be sending in their support (and their questions).
The spacewalk is uniting people from every corner in their support: tennis legend Billie Jean King, actress Katherine McNamara, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and many more have all marveled at the live stream on Twitter.
History is being made right this second. Tune in to watch the #AllWomanSpacewalk! Congratulations to @Astro_Christina and @Astro_Jessica! #trailblazershttps://t.co/UMcKpttVtN
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) October 18, 2019
This is stellar! The first all female space walk is happenig now! Congratulations, @Astro_Christina & @Astro_Jessica! #AllWomanSpacewalk@NASA_Astronauts@NASApic.twitter.com/OjRAHGlNee
— Katherine McNamara (@Kat_McNamara) October 18, 2019
.@NASA has captured the imaginations of the world for generations. Congratulations to @Astro_Christina & @Astro_Jessica for leaving their mark on history with today’s #AllWomanSpacewalk. You are an inspiration to women & girls across America. https://t.co/HQZIDUpBNZ
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) October 18, 2019
This Jessica Meir’s first spacewalk and Christina Cook’s fourth. They’re working on replacing the battery charge discharge unit. #AllWomanSpacewalkpic.twitter.com/MYKASO6zpj
— Kendra Horn (@VoteKendraOK) October 18, 2019
This is incredible—here's to breaking barriers. #AllWomanSpacewalkhttps://t.co/tmNUi2nPbC
— Amy McGrath (@AmyMcGrathKY) October 18, 2019
LADIES are headed to space and I am here for it. #AllWomanSpacewalkhttps://t.co/PS2wnJprDK
— Brooke Schwieters (@Reporter_Brooke) October 18, 2019
Been watching #AllWomanSpacewalk all morning
As @Astro_Christina@Astro_Jessica make history
with 5.5 hour spacewalkPer @JimBridenstine – 15 women have now conducted spacewalks, 14 of them Americans https://t.co/Lds8Oa5NML
— Morgan Brennan (@MorganLBrennan) October 18, 2019
Congratulations to these fearless women — we hope to see many more all-female spacewalks in the future!
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