SPOKANE, Wash. – Spokane native and NASA astronaut Anne McClain made headlines as she was set to take part in what would have been the first all-female spacewalk.
On Monday, March 25, NASA announced that the spacewalk would not happen to due an assignment change stemming from spacesuit availability. NASA said the assignments were changed because astronauts Christina Koch and McClain both required a medium-sized upper torso, which is essentially the shirt of the spacesuit.
NASA tweeted that they have more than one medium spacesuit torso aboard the International Space Station, but needed to change spacewalker assignments rather than reconfigure spacesuits for safety reasons and to stay on schedule with upgrades.
On Twitter, McClain said NASA’s decision was based on her recommendation.
"This decision was based on my recommendation. Leaders must make tough calls, and I am fortunate to work with a team who trusts my judgement. We must never accept a risk that can instead be mitigated. Safety of the crew and execution of the mission come first," McClain wrote.
RELATED: 'Leaders must make tough calls': Anne McClain responds to all-female spacewalk cancellation
On Monday, April 1, McClain, Koch and NASA Flight Engineer Nick Hague appeared on the Today Show virtually from the space station.
“We were down here on the planet Earth with two pom-poms looking up," said Today Show host Hoda Kotb. "We were hoping for the first all-female spacewalk and all of a sudden they said it was scrapped because of a suit.”
Kotb asked McClain how “bummed” she was about the cancellation.
“I think by now most people know that was actually based on my recommendation. I think as the lead for the U.S. segment up here on the space station we are always looking for ways to make our team and our execution the most efficient we can,” McClain responded.
“I am extremely proud of Nick and Christina. We’re all classmates from the 2013 astronaut class. We all got to NASA at the same time,” she added.
The spacewalk finished work that began during the first one of the year on March 22, which McClain took part in. Astronauts worked to install powerful lithium-ion batteries for one pair of the station’s solar arrays.
"It was an absolutely incredible experience to be outside the space station. Friday was my first time doing it and it blew me away. Floating above the Earth with nothing between you and the Earth 250 miles below you...is a pretty amazing thing to accomplish," Koch said.
"The spacesuit is bulky, no matter what your size, and it provides for a very small envelope right in front of you. ...It's very important to have a great fit and we're lucky that we can all get out there and push through those challenges," she added.
McClain also addressed comments that the spacewalk was canceled.
“There were no spacewalks that were canceled. These guys went out the door last Friday. I’m going out the door again next week and we’re certainly looking forward to that,” McClain told Today.
McClain is slated for the third spacewalk 2019 on April 8, which is set to start at 3:05 a.m.
“We’ve just been so busy and focused on this mission that it’s been a great time to be up on the space station,” she said.
Saturday Night Live recently used part of their regular “Weekend Update” skit to make light of the canceled all-female spacewalk.
In the skit, McClain is played by SNL cast member Aidy Bryant, who feigns happiness for her colleagues that went on the spacewalk. She also pointed out that NASA has previously made spacesuits for a dog and a monkey, but didn't have enough correct fitting suits for her and fellow female astronaut Christina Koch to perform the spacewalk.
Bryant also pointed out the qualifications that McClain has to perform the spacewalk.
"I work my whole life, flew 1,600 hours, became a helicopter pilot, did 216 combat missions in the United States Army and got two master's degrees in aerospace engineering, but then, the spaceshirt and the pants were the wrong size, so actually unfortunately, the dream's got to die," Bryant ranted.
Hague responded to the SNL skit on Today.
"We saw the SNL skit and it was hilarious. It had us crying. It was great," he said.
"Quite honestly, it was the laugh we needed up here yesterday, McClain added.
McClain also retweeted the video and told Bryant her uniform was "impeccable."
