NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers conducted a rare all-female spacewalk outside the International Space Station, despite a minor issue with one of their gloves. The six-and-a-half hour mission aimed to install a bracket for a future solar array, increasing power generation capacity by up to 30 percent.
The problem arose when McClain noticed a “slice” in her right glove’s index finger, prompting Houston to investigate further. Ground control confirmed the issue was not serious and allowed the spacewalk to proceed as planned. The team determined the problem was a string of Turtleskin fabric along the seam of the glove.
This all-female spacewalk marked a rare achievement for women astronauts after six years of waiting. McClain had initially missed her chance due to spacesuit fitting issues in 2019. NASA has been working on a successor to its aging Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) suits, but development has been slow.
The International Space Station is set to be retired in under five years, and the existing EMU suits are showing signs of aging. Despite these challenges, McClain’s spacewalk marked an important step forward for women astronauts, highlighting the need for more inclusive spacesuit designs.
Source: https://futurism.com/nasa-astronaut-slice-glove