Cityblog Live

CityBlog is back with all fresh local news, views, opinions, jobs, food and entertainment. Do send us your blog contributions to us for publishing at cityblogpuneonline@gmail.com

Friday, March 8, 2019

2 female NASA astronauts and a Canadian flight controller will conduct the first-ever all-woman space walk

On July 25, 1984, cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya became the first woman to walk in space. Now, almost 35 years later, history will once again be made as the first all-female spacewalk is scheduled to take place March 29. 
NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Christina Koch will conduct a spacewalk as part of the Expedition 59 crew at the International Space Station, along with Canadian Space Agency flight controller, Kristen Facciol serving as console at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Facciol revealed her announcement March 1 via Twitter when she alerted her followers she would be "on console providing support for the FIRST ALL FEMALE SPACEWALK."
Since 1998, there have been 213 spacewalks at the space station. The U.S. has seen 160 spacewalks in U.S. spacesuits, while Russia has had 53 spacewalks in Russian spacesuits.

According to NASA, spacewalks allow astronauts to work on the outside of their spacecraft while in space, conduct science experiments as well as test out any new equipment. Spacewalks outside of the space station typically last anywhere from five to eight hours, but it's currently unknown how long this spacewalk will be. 
McClain and Koch were selected to be NASA astronauts in 2013. McClain is currently part of the Expedition 58 crew that launched back in December 2018 and will also serve on Expedition 59. 
Koch meanwhile, will serve as a flight engineer for Expedition 59 and 60, the former of which is scheduled to launch on March 14. This is McClain's first time in space and it will also be Koch's first spaceflight.
Another spacewalk is expected to take place before the all-female one. McClain is scheduled to conduct another spacewalk with fellow NASA astronaut Tyler "Nick" Hague on March 22.
Antonia Jaramillo


No comments:

Post a Comment