First all-female spacewalk: Two stars shining bright
I'm not crying, you're crying.
- Carrie has lived on both coasts and can definitively say that Chesapeake Bay blue crabs are the best.
NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Christina Koch prepare on the International Space Station for the first all-female spacewalk.
As astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir made history on Friday during the first all-female spacewalk, people on social media got seriously emotional. The hashtag #AllFemaleSpacewalk trended on Twitter, and NASA's livestream of the spacewalk trended on YouTube. The pair spent more than seven hours outside the International Space Station working to replace a failed power unit, among other tasks.
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
Some people noted they were surprised by the emotional impact of seeing Koch and Meir work outside the ISS, while others shared pictures of their daughters watching the spacewalk.
"I didn't expect to be emotionally affected by the #AllWomanSpacewalk, but when I just tuned in to hear female voices paired with the sight of people working in space suits, it got real dusty in this room - I'd never seen that before," said one person on Twitter. "These women are role models, and that matters."
I didn't expect to be emotionally affected by the #AllWomanSpacewalk, but when I just tuned in to hear female voices paired with the sight of people working in space suits, it got real dusty in this room - I'd never seen that before. These women are role models, and that matters.
— Casey (@Kalenedral14) October 18, 2019
I’m feeling surprisingly emotional about the #AllWomanSpacewalk today! “Astronaut” is the first thing I remember wanting to be when I grew up. These astronauts take a piece of all of our dreams with them! https://t.co/6JCiMY2qNO
— Anne Ralph (@aerwrites) October 18, 2019
The spacewalkers are women, Ground IV is a woman, the public affairs speaker is a woman, I'm cryin 😭👩🏻🚀👩🏻🚀 #AllWomanSpacewalk #WomenInSTEM https://t.co/UG69T0z38C
— Jenny On Console (@JennyOnConsole) October 18, 2019
Many people, including President Donald Trump, took time to note the historic nature of this spacewalk and how it'll affect the future.
"I just want to congratulate you, what you do is incredible," Trump told the astronauts in a surprise call from the White House.
“You’re doing an incredible job,” says @POTUS to @Astro_Christina and @Astro_Jessica during today’s #AllWomanSpacewalk. Tune in to watch history in the making: https://t.co/2SIb9YFKsH pic.twitter.com/bMMSzKVaFc
— NASA (@NASA) October 18, 2019
Little girls growing up today will think this historic event is perfectly normal. #AllWomanSpacewalk . https://t.co/qp70XtYSz3
— Valerie Jarrett (@ValerieJarrett) October 18, 2019
.@NASA has captured the imaginations of the world for generations. Congratulations to @Astro_Christina & @Astro_Jessica for leaving their mark on history with today’s #AllWomanSpacewalk. You are an inspiration to women & girls across America. https://t.co/HQZIDUpBNZ
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) October 18, 2019
Out of this world girl power... #AllWomanSpacewalk 👩🚀👩🚀 First time ever. Simply awesome.... https://t.co/OPiiSwiAki
— Marina Walter (@MarinaWalter99) October 18, 2019
Fellow astronauts also offered up words of encouragement and congratulations.
"So proud of my astrosisters @Astro_Christina and @Astro_Jessica," tweeted fellow NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan. "We've been training together since our selection in 2013, and now they're out on a history-making spacewalk!"
So proud of my astrosisters @Astro_Christina and @Astro_Jessica! We’ve been training together since our selection in 2013, and now they’re out on a history-making spacewalk! #AllWomanSpacewalk pic.twitter.com/zjMGDJ5tae
— Andrew Morgan (@AstroDrewMorgan) October 18, 2019
You know, success is good. It reminds us that sacrifices are worth it. But watching two people you love succeed, knowing you got to share part of their journey? That’s really the best. That’s the kind of deep down happiness that’s hard to explain. My BFFs are the BEST! https://t.co/4HLBfiZfyo
— Anne McClain (@AstroAnnimal) October 18, 2019
Some in the tech world also took note of the spacewalk.
"Very inspiring to see the historic #AllWomanSpacewalk - hopefully just the first of many to come. Congrats @Astro_Christina and @Astro_Jessica on your success today!," tweeted Google CEO Sundar Pichai.
Very inspiring to see the historic #AllWomanSpacewalk - hopefully just the first of many to come. Congrats @Astro_Christina and @Astro_Jessica on your success today!
— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) October 18, 2019
Congratulations to @Astro_Christina and @Astro_Jessica on making history with the first-ever #AllWomanSpacewalk! What an amazing accomplishment and so cool to watch! @NASA https://t.co/bysPJGSkhf
— Chuck Robbins (@ChuckRobbins) October 18, 2019
Their work officially started at 4:38 a.m. PT. and concluded around 11:50 a.m. PT. This was Koch's fourth spacewalk, and Meir's first.
Originally published Oct. 18, 8:13 a.m. PT.
Update, 12:58 p.m.: Adds more reactions and notes that the spacewalk was completed.