Nasa cancels first all-women spacewalk because there aren’t enough well-fitting suits
- Early this month, Nasa announced that Christina Koch and Anne McClain would take part in the first-of-its kind mission on March 29
- But Nasa said its plans had changed, ‘in part’ due to a shortage of outerwear
The US space agency Nasa has scrapped a planned historic spacewalk by two women astronauts, citing a lack of available spacesuits that would fit them at the International Space Station.
Christina Koch will now perform tasks in space Friday with fellow American Nick Hague – instead of Anne McClain as originally planned.
Had Koch and McClain done their spacewalk together, it would have been the first ever by two women astronauts.
Until now, male-only or mixed male-female teams had conducted spacewalk since the space station was assembled in 1998 – 214 spacewalks until now.
McClain worked outside the station last week – with Hague – when she realised that a “medium”-sized upper half of her spacesuit fit her better.
“Because only one medium-size torso can be made ready by Friday, March 29, Koch will wear it,” Nasa explained.