A small issue popped up during a big moment in space history. Two astronauts, Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, stepped out of the International Space Station for a special task. Their mission? To install a bracket for a new solar array. This upgrade could boost the station's power by up to 30 percent, which is a significant improvement.

The spacewalk was notable for being the fifth all-female mission. However, it wasn't entirely smooth sailing. About an hour into their six-and-a-half-hour mission, McClain spotted a problem. There was a small cut in the glove of her spacesuit, specifically on the index finger of her right hand. She quickly reported this to the ground control team in Houston.

Ground control asked McClain to move her hand closer to the camera so they could get a better look. After a quick assessment, they determined that the cut was not serious. It was just a loose string from a special fabric called Turtleskin, which is part of the glove's design. This fabric is made by a company that NASA works with, Warwick Mills.

The spacewalk continued as planned, and the mission was a success. This was a big moment for McClain, who had to wait six years for this opportunity. Back in 2019, she was supposed to be part of the first all-female spacewalk but had to switch out due to a spacesuit fitting issue. At that time, a medium-sized torso for the spacesuit fit her better, but it wasn't available in time. So, astronaut Nick Hague took her place.

The first all-female spacewalk finally happened in October 2019, with astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir. This was seven months after McClain missed her chance. NASA has had many challenges with its aging Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) suits. These suits have been in use since the 1980s and have had issues ranging from discomfort to water leaks.

Women astronauts, in particular, have faced fitting problems with these suits for decades. Many parts of the EMU are adjustable, but some components don't fit well, especially for shorter women. This issue is not unique to spacesuits. It's a common problem in many male-dominated fields, from military uniforms to firefighter gear.

NASA is working on a new spacesuit design to replace the current EMU. However, the International Space Station is set to retire in less than five years, giving NASA a tight deadline to develop and test the new suits. The current EMU suits are showing their age, just like the station itself. Before every spacewalk, the gloves go through a thorough inspection. Photography and detailed analysis help ground control decide if the gloves are safe to use.

SPACE SUIT PROBLEMS

A Minor Glitch in a Major Milestone

Continue reading...