Why Spacesuit Fit Matters for Women in Space

In March 2019, NASA planned for astronauts Anne McClain and Christina Koch to complete the first all-woman spacewalk. Scheduled for March 29, the two were set to work outside the International Space Station, installing new batteries to help power the station. The spacewalk was part of a series of missions to upgrade the station’s power system. 

A week earlier, McClain had completed her first spacewalk with fellow astronaut Nick Hague. She discovered that a medium-sized upper section of the spacesuit fit her best. Koch also needed that size, but only one medium-sized section could be prepared in time for March 29. NASA therefore assigned Hague to join Koch instead. The two completed the scheduled spacewalk, while McClain remained aboard the station. 

Several months later, on October 18, 2019, Christina Koch and Jessica Meir completed the first all-woman spacewalk outside the International Space Station. They spent more than seven hours replacing a faulty component in the station’s power system. Their achievement marked an important moment in space history and in women’s participation in space exploration.