Astronauts Anne McClain and Christina Koch were due to take their spacewalk together on March 29, but when NASA confirmed it had cancelled the event “due in part to spacesuit availability”, both women were shocked.
I honestly thought this was an Onion article at first. It is not: NASA Scraps First All-Female Spacewalk For Want Of A Medium-Size Spacesuit https://t.co/XLMQN8XQmL
— Vivian Salama (@vmsalama) March 26, 2019
In a press release NASA states that “following the first spacewalk, mission managers decided to adjust the assignments, due in part to spacesuit availability on the station. McClain learned during her first spacewalk that a medium-size hard upper torso – essentially the shirt of the spacesuit – fits her best.
Because only one medium-size torso can be made ready by Friday, March 29, Koch will wear it.”
“Make another suit” tweeted Hillary Clinton upon hearing the news.
Make another suit. https://t.co/mu9w13xsi0
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) March 26, 2019
Seems obvious, right?
It is hard to fathom that an organisation as geared towards planning and precision as NASA could overlook such a basic requirement.
The organisation is now facing accusations of sexism with women globally adding their two cents.
Does anyone have one she can borrow? https://t.co/Ly7RisXYep
— Arianna Huffington (@ariannahuff) March 26, 2019
Someone: What is the stupidest excuse for your sexism?
Nasa: https://t.co/SBTGDQhBVt
— Stella fuck // MadamS (@MyGillianA) March 27, 2019
To be fair, hard to foresee that you'd need clothes for this https://t.co/LQ0ERZ2BAH
— Annabel Crabb (@annabelcrabb) March 26, 2019
#NASA scraps 1st all-woman spacewalk because the spacesuit didn’t fit — so now a man will go instead:https://t.co/sK34vIgJ2y pic.twitter.com/I9LW1UQEmA
— Women in the World (@WomenintheWorld) March 26, 2019