Fifth female space walk in NASA’s history
On May 1, two NASA astronauts, Nichole Ayers and Anne McClain, will carry out the fifth exclusively female space walk, a significant event in the history of space exploration. This activity will be developed in the outer space of the International Space Station (ISS) and is scheduled to start at 8 AM EDT (12:00 GMT). The walk, which is estimated will last approximately six and a half hours, will be an opportunity for both astronauts to perform crucial tasks in the station infrastructure.
During this mission, Ayers and McClain will be in charge of relocating a communications antenna of the space station and installing a support for the future installation of a new set of solar panels, called International Space Station Rollout Solar Arrays (IROSA). According to NASA officials, the installation of these solar panels will increase the seasonal generation capacity of the station by 30%, raising their total available power from 160 to 215 kilowatts. This improvement is essential to maintain station operations and support future scientific research in space.
This event marks the third space walk for McClain and the first for Ayers. In addition, it represents the 275th space walk in the history of the ISS. The first female space walk took place in October 2019, made by astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir. Today’s walk follows another milestone in November 2023, consolidating the participation of women in space exploration and underlining the importance of teamwork in science and technology.
