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NASA scraps all-women space walk for lack of well-fitting suits
 [DAWN] The US space agency NASA scrapped Monday a planned historic spacewalk by two women astronauts, citing a lack of available spacesuits that would fit them at the International Space Station.Christina Koch will now perform tasks in space Friday with fellow American Nick Hague ‐ instead of Anne McClain as originally planned. Had Koch and McClain done their spacewalk together, it would have been the first ever by two women astronauts. Until now, male-only or mixed male-female teams had conducted spacewalk since the space station was assembled in 1998 ‐ 214 spacewalks until now. McClain worked outside the station last week ‐ with Hague ‐ when she realised that a "medium"-sized upper half of her spacesuit fit her better. "Because only one medium-size torso can be made ready by Friday, March 29, Koch will wear it," NASA explained. Posted by: Fred 2019-03-27 |
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