All-Women Spacewalk

Many children dream of being astronauts, but very few have the experience. NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Christina Koch are among the lucky few who get to travel to space. Meir and Koch also made history last month, when they conducted the first all-women spacewalk ever!

The spacewalk itself took just over seven hours to complete. During that time, Koch and Meir replaced a faulty battery charge-discharge unit that had prevented several previously planned spacewalks from happening. They also completed some get-ahead tasks including installing a stanchion to support a new European Space Agency payload platform. Interestingly, the acting Capsule Communication, or the voice of Mission Control, was fellow astronaut Stephanie Wilson, who issued instructions throughout the mission. She is an amazing astronaut in her own right, having completed three spaceflights and spent 42 days in space.

On the International Space Station, NASA astronauts Jessica Meir & Christina Koch prepare for the first all-female spacewalk
On the International Space Station, NASA astronauts Jessica Meir & Christina Koch prepare for the first all-female spacewalk
On the International Space Station, NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Christina Koch prepare for the first all-female spacewalk on Oct. 18, 2019. Credit: NASA

Meir is the 15th woman to walk in space, and the 14th from the United States. She follows female US astronauts who have conducted more than 40 spacewalks over the past 35 years. Both women were selected as part of the 2013 astronaut class, of which 50 percent were women.

#DYK: many other essential roles at NASA are fulfilled by women right here on Earth!

Female mathematicians, scientists, and engineers have worked behind the scenes from the very beginning to create the technology that lets astronauts like Koch and Meir walk through space. Many of these are civil servants who work directly for NASA; others work for the many contractors who support NASA’s missions.

For example, Katherine Johnson, who worked at NASA’s Langley Research Center from 1953 to 1986, made priceless contributions including calculating the trajectory that allowed Alan Shepard to become the first American in space. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama as a result of her work at NASA.

NASA research mathematician Katherine Johnson is photographed at her desk at Langley Research Center in 1966.
NASA research mathematician Katherine Johnson is photographed at her desk at Langley Research Center in 1966.
NASA research mathematician Katherine Johnson is photographed at her desk at Langley Research Center in 1966. Credit: NASA

Katherine Johnson is a reminder that NASA is more than astronauts. There are thousands of jobs you could do at NASA. They include scientists, engineers, IT specialists, human resources specialists, accountants, writers, technicians, and many other kinds of people working together to break barriers to achieve new possibilities.

Women are among those achieving these breakthroughs. They are shattering glass (and atmospheric) ceilings every day in public service. Are you a woman who has served? Share your story with us here!

If you’re interested in learning more about the astronauts mentioned in this article, you can follow them on Twitter at @Astro_Jessica, @Astro_Christina, and @Astro_Stephanie. If you’re interested in learning more about diverse forms of public service, be sure to follow us at @Inspire2ServeUS or check out our website!

National Commission on Service

Written by

Commission to review the military selective service process and to consider methods to increase participation in military, national, & public service.

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