According to NASA’s website: “The International Space Station spacewalk, part of Expedition 59, scheduled for March 29, will include astronauts Anne McClain and Christina Koch, as well as Jackie Kagey as the lead EVA, or spacewalk flight controller,” reports the outlet. “The spacewalk will last around seven hours, NASA spokeswoman Kathryn Hambleton confirmed in a statement, that the spacewalk will be historic, cautioning that unforeseen events could change the outcome.”
(Above) Astronaut Anne McClain.
The March 29 spacewalk will be the first with only women,” Hambleton said. “Assignments and schedules could always change.” Hambleton added that the all-female spacewalk taking place during Women’s History Month was entirely coincidental. “It was not orchestrated to be this way; these spacewalks were originally scheduled to take place in the fall.”
(Above) Astronaut Christina Koch.
The on-the-ground flight control team at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston will include lead flight director Mary Lawrence and NASA engineer Kristen Facciol. Facciol tweeted her excitement last week, writing,
“I just found out that I’ll be on console providing support for the FIRST ALL FEMALE SPACEWALK with @AstroAnnimal and @Astro_Christina and I cannot contain my excitement!!!!” Spacewalks are somewhat rare and are usually done for reasons that include exterior work on a spacecraft or satellite, or testing new equipment.
