NASA Cancels Its Historic All-Female Spacewalk, Citing 'Lack Of Spacesuit In The Right Size'

NASA Cancels Its Historic All-Female Spacewalk, Citing ‘Lack Of Spacesuit In The Right Size’

Astronaut Anne McClain will now have to give up her place to a male colleague

NASA’s plans for the first all-female spacewalk have fallen through, with the agency citing a lack of spacesuits in the right fit.

Early this month, Nasa announced that Christina Koch and Anne McClain would take part in the first-of-its-kind mission on 29 March, walking outside the international space station (ISS) to install new batteries. In the past, missions have been all-male or male-female.

But in a press release on Monday, Nasa said its plans had changed, “in part” due to a shortage of outerwear. McClain had “learned during her first spacewalk that a medium-size hard upper torso – essentially the shirt of the spacesuit – fits her best.” Only one such top can be made by Friday, the agency said, and it will go to Koch.

Anne McClain will now have to give up her place to a male colleague.

astronaut Ann McClain (L), is interviewed live on social media by U.S. Chief Data Scientist at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy D. J. Patil (C), and White House Chief Digital Officer Jason Goldman ( — Astronaut Ann McClain (L), is interviewed live on social media by U.S. Chief Data Scientist at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy D. J. Patil (C), and White House Chief Digital Officer Jason Goldman

Many were disappointed by the news.

I'm suuper disappointed about the all-woman spacewalk not happening as scheduled this Friday but I'm also super supportive of astronauts having the authority to say "I would be safer using a different piece of equipment." An all-woman spacewalk WILL eventually happen. https://t.co/LRob2RHvxq
— Emily Lakdawalla (@elakdawalla) March 25, 2019

“Anne trained in ‘M’ and ‘L’ and thought she could use a large but decided after [last] Friday’s spacewalk a medium fits better,” a Nasa spokeswoman, Stephanie Schierholz, announced on Monday.

“In this case, it’s easier (and faster!) to change space-walkers than reconfigure the spacesuit.”

Grace Back Digital Content Manager

Grace Back is a journalist and was formerly the Digital Culture Editor across ELLE and marie claire Australia. When not stuck in a seemingly endless Instagram scroll, you'll find Grace with her head in a good book.