Chapter 1: The Historic Spacewalk

In a remarkable event, NASA celebrated its first spacewalk featuring an all-female team, albeit with a minor setback back on Earth.

Two astronauts, Jessica Meir and Christina Koch, found themselves suspended in the vastness of space, securely tethered to the International Space Station (ISS) to prevent drifting away.

This morning, the duo embarked on a five-and-a-half-hour mission to replace a malfunctioning battery component on the exterior of the ISS, a device essential for charging the solar-powered batteries that sustain the station's operations.

The spacewalk itself unfolded without major incidents—akin to home improvement tasks in humanity's celestial residence, complete with drills, bolts, and the inevitable sore muscles. The significance of the day lay not in the challenges of the task, but in the identities of the astronauts, marking them as the 14th and 15th women to venture outside the ISS since the pioneering Soviet cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya made history in 1984. Enthusiasm was particularly high following a prior attempt at an all-female spacewalk in March, which was called off last minute due to a shortage of appropriately sized spacesuits for the astronauts involved.

NASA officials assured the public that this time, the astronauts had the right equipment.

Section 1.1: Challenges of Inclusion

Over the past two decades, NASA astronauts have conducted more than 200 spacewalks, often in pairs. Before this historic event, a reporter raised the question of why it took so long for two women to perform a spacewalk together.

Ken Bowersox, acting administrator for NASA’s human exploration and operations division, acknowledged that some physical factors can complicate spacewalks for women. “It’s somewhat analogous to competing in the NBA. Just as I might not measure up physically, certain characteristics can affect performance in specific tasks—spacewalks included,” he explained. He noted that women generally tend to be smaller than men, which historically influenced who was selected for certain jobs, as taller men had an advantage in reaching various components.

Bowersox emphasized that women have navigated these limitations successfully. “Their intelligence and problem-solving skills have allowed them to overcome many of these physical barriers,” he added.

Subsection 1.1.1: Spacesuit Constraints

However, Bowersox's comments sparked controversy, echoing outdated sentiments about women's capabilities in space exploration. The narrative around women's fitness for spaceflight often focused on their physical characteristics rather than the actual constraints of the spacesuits, which were designed decades ago. Budget cuts led to a reduction in the variety of suit sizes available, complicating the situation for many astronauts.

Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut, pointed out that many suits are simply too large for the average woman, making spacewalks more challenging. Ellen Stofan, former NASA chief scientist, criticized Bowersox's remarks, asserting that the real issue lies in suit design rather than physical limitations of women.

Chapter 2: A New Era in Space Exploration

SpaceX's historic Polaris Dawn spacewalk - Full EVA broadcast - YouTube. This video showcases the groundbreaking achievements of astronauts during a spacewalk, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity in space exploration.

Billionaire Performs Historic Commercial Space Walk - YouTube. This video highlights significant commercial endeavors in space, furthering the conversation on the future of space exploration.

Bowersox expressed hope for more all-women spacewalks in the future. He noted that while historically, spacesuit development favored male astronauts, NASA is now committed to creating suits that accommodate a wider range of body types.

The astronaut corps today features more women than ever, with this spacewalk marking a significant achievement in history. Yet, Bowersox's comments reflect a mindset that could easily send us back to outdated views of the 1960s.

Jim Bridenstine, NASA's administrator, added that women might be better suited for certain aspects of spaceflight, citing research on cranial pressure in microgravity environments.

Despite strides in diversity within the astronaut corps, with an equal number of men and women in the latest class, challenges remain. The agency continues to work towards fostering an inclusive environment, emphasizing the importance of diversity in future missions, including upcoming lunar expeditions.

The story of today's spacewalk, featuring two capable astronauts achieving a milestone that was once unimaginable for women, should have served as a testament to progress. However, the pre-event discussions revealed lingering outdated perceptions that still influence women's opportunities in the field.