Last week, NASA set out to make history once again. Two NASA astronauts, Christina Koch and Jessica Meir, stepped out of the International Space Station (ISS) for the first time in history without a male companion. This act, known as a “spacewalk,” was highly anticipated, not just by the two women participating but by the world watching.
For Meir, taking part in a spacewalk was something she had dreamed about since childhood, writing in her high school yearbook that she would one day take the leap out of the ISS. Her next goal? To walk on the moon.
This historic spacewalk comes nearly a decade after the first crew mission to the ISS. On Halloween of 2000, a new era of space exploration and international cooperation was born. Expedition 1, the first long-duration stay at the station, lasted for 136 days. Since that time, the ISS has seen roughly 239 astronauts come abroad from 19 different countries. And for the first time, in 2019 — nearly 10 years later — Koch and Meir will go down as the first women to complete an all-female spacewalk.
Everyone knows @Astro_Christina & I went for a spacewalk on Friday. But do you know why? With the support of @NASA_Johnson teams, we replaced the BCDU to bring @Space_Station power back to full capacity. We hope Friday’s adventure invigorates the power of all who dare to dream! pic.twitter.com/QFuCCPMxjq
— Jessica Meir (@Astro_Jessica) October 21, 2019
But the question has to be asked: why has it taken so long for this to happen? And truthfully, there is no clear cut or all-consuming answer. What is known for a fact, however, is that both astronauts hope it will not be the last. Training together since 2013, their astronaut class was the first to be comprised of 50% men and 50% women.
Meir was quoted stating, “there are more females and more diversity in general in STEM fields that has led to a higher percentage of women in astronaut classes. To me, that kind of gender equality and inclusion is the way to get the job done for a successful mission.”
Within the last decade, the number of women in STEM fields has grown exponentially, with many senior positions in the space industry being held by women professionals in the field. This spacewalk serves to reinforce the idea that diversity in science and technology is crucial to contributing to the betterment of humankind.
Another milestone in human space exploration is officially complete!?????@Astro_Christina & @Astro_Jessica just wrapped up the first ever #AllWomenSpacewalk. The spacewalkers spent 7 hours & 17 minutes working outside of the @Space_Station to replace a failed power unit. pic.twitter.com/gMtSYlbBBZ
— NASA Astronauts (@NASA_Astronauts) October 18, 2019
For Koch, the ability to see someone who looks just like you excelling in STEM is something she’s always dreamed of being part of. Both women believe that the more diverse a team is, the happier it will ultimately be.
Going to the largest university in the nation with a motto like “Reach for the Stars,” it is no wonder that students here at UCF continue to push the envelope. The dream of becoming the next scientist to contribute to planetary research, the next physicist to study particles and radiation, the next mathematician to write the formula to send us to Mars.
Christina Koch and Jessica Meir have ignited those dreams in us to soar to levels we never thought possible.
Images: 1, 2, all other image credit to @NASA_Astronauts on Twitter.