Not enough spacesuits in women's sizes?! Twitter reacts to NASA canceling all-female spacewalk
MELBOURNE, Fla. – Talk about an epic wardrobe malfunction.
Days before the first-ever all-female spacewalk was planned, Friday's spacewalk will now be conducted by a man and a woman – NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Christina Koch – instead of Koch and American astronaut Anne McClain.
The event, which would have been a historic occasion for NASA and humankind, was changed up because ... groan ... there's only one spacesuit that best fits both female astronauts onboard the International Space Station.
"McClain learned during her first spacewalk that a medium-size hard upper torso — essentially the shirt of the spacesuit — fits her best," NASA announced Monday. "Because only one medium-size torso can be made ready by Friday, March 29, Koch will wear it."
March 25: Historic all-female spacewalk canceled because there weren't enough medium-sized spacesuits
Since 1998, there have been 214 spacewalks at the space station.
Here's the reaction – the good, the bad and the disbelief – from social media.
In 1965 even Barbie got to go to space. 2019 and we STILL don’t have enough spacesuits for the first all female spacewalk? pic.twitter.com/nOHc3PtOlt
— Kristine Ziwica (@KZiwica) March 26, 2019
I mean, ladies, we got an all female cast of Ghostbusters & Ocean's 8. We can't ALSO have an all-lady spacewalk. It's just TOO much for the men to handle. #NASA https://t.co/khE2dA5xUr
— FUpatriarchy (@FU_patriarchy) March 26, 2019
I just want to point out that NASA cancelled that all female spacewalk that was in the news because THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH SPACESUITS IN THE RIGHT SIZE pffffff
— Ruthi Hortsch (@RuthiHortsch) March 26, 2019
One Twitter user expressed frustration felt 'round the world: "I'm still not over the fact that NASA spacesuits aren't designed appropriately for women even though the 1st solo female spacewalk happened 35 years ago & the 2 women set to do the all-female spacewalk Friday were part of Nasa’s 2013 class, which was 50% female. They. Had. Time"
I'm still not over the fact that NASA spacesuits aren't designed appropriately for women even though the 1st solo female spacewalk happened 35 years ago & the 2 women set to do the all-female spacewalk Friday were part of Nasa’s 2013 class, which was 50% female.
They. Had. Time pic.twitter.com/a8HF4lIDs6— Fatima Syed (@fatimabsyed) March 26, 2019
In honour of @NASA cancelling the first all female space walk due to not being able to find the right sized suit (???) I’m reminded of the time they asked Sally Ride if 100 tampons would be enough for her 1 week in space. Go science!
— Elizabeth Keay (@eliz_keay) March 26, 2019
The two female astronauts were part of a class that had 50/50 gender representation - kudos to NASA for making gender diversity a priority
And finally, all that happened was they just postponed the all-female spacewalk. As they didn't have the time to make the safety checks.— Anant Deboor (@AnantDeboor) March 26, 2019
Nasa when peeping for an all female spacewalk didn't think to idk make sure your walkers had the right suite and now it's just too late.
— SadGay (@KillThisArtist) March 26, 2019
Wore my space tshirt today because of the all female space walk but it's cancelled because @NASA doesn't have enough space suits on board small enough for both women to go out of the space station at the same time. Planning fail. Thank you for the anecdote for class though.
— MsArcands learners (@ArcandjMs) March 26, 2019
This decision was made by the astronaut, and logistics and circumstances should improve to allow changes more quickly (which can happen) in outerwear. An all-female spacewalk will happen. Females are astronauts, engineers and managers in NASA. They will not be held back.
— Erwin Ho (@erwinho84) March 26, 2019
The US just canceled the 1st all female spacewalk because only 1 medium suit is available. Reminds me of how there was only 1 womens bathroom in my 4 floor physics building as an undergrad 15 years ago. We must do better. https://t.co/f9QNOOWdMX
— Anna Quider (@AQuider) March 26, 2019
Shout out to the men at @NASA for forgetting that women come in all different sizes.
I was finally hoping that in 2019 at the age of 34 I would FINALLY see a all female space walk but nooooooo.
Men ruin everything.— The Shea One (@Shea_Eqx) March 26, 2019
Throughout the disbelief of the all-female spacewalk cancellation, there were tweets suggesting the logistical difficulty for NASA to fix the spacesuit situation: "Sad to hear the all female space walk has been canceled, but happy that these amazing women were given the ability to decide what they are comfortable with in terms of their safety @NASA"
Sad to hear the all female space walk has been canceled, but happy that these amazing women were given the ability to decide what they are comfortable with in terms of their safety @NASA
— Mary kate 🌸 (@giuffrida203) March 26, 2019
"I saw a documentary once about how complicated space suits are, so I realize it's not like going to H&M and buying a cheap suit off a rack. Having said that ... an all female spacewalk is cancelled (sic) because they don't have a medium?! I can't."
I saw a documentary once about how complicated space suits are, so I realize it’s not like going to H&M and buying a cheap suit off a rack. Having said that... an all female spacewalk is cancelled because they don’t have a medium?! I can’t. https://t.co/6oH7b6gnG3
— Chad Priest (@ChadSPriest) March 26, 2019
Contributing: Antonia Jaramillo, Florida Today. Follow Jennifer Sangalang on Twitter: @byjensangalang
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Not enough spacesuits in women's sizes?! Twitter reacts to NASA canceling all-female spacewalk