NASA accused of sexism for cancelling first ever all-female spacewalk

NASA is being accused of sexism, after it recently called off a to-be historic event over a spacesuit size issue, which originally had two females to do the first ever all-female spacewalk.

The first ever all-female spacewalk was set to happen on March 29, expected to make history. However, NASA called it off citing the reason of unavailability of appropriate sized spacesuit for one of the female astronauts, Anne McClain. Hence, NASA switched her with a male astronaut along with one female astronaut, Christina Koch.

This decision of NASA’s attracted a lot of criticism from all around, with people accusing NASA of promoting sexism. Even US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton took to Twitter, asking NASA to just make another suit.

Make another suit. https://t.co/mu9w13xsi0

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) March 26, 2019

To recap: NASA postponed the first all-women spacewalk for lack of enough properly fitting spacesuits.

They put men on the moon and robots on Mars yet somehow forgot to design for the possibility of multiple female astronauts.

It reminds me of this: https://t.co/VXwcOKdQPf https://t.co/fB2ynGOhbC

— Kevin L. Keys (@_klkeys_) March 26, 2019

We put a man on the moon but we can’t find a spacesuit that fits a woman by Friday.

https://t.co/L3YIi0OWfZ

— Arianna Huffington (@ariannahuff) March 26, 2019

NASA just canceled the first all-female spacewalk because it won't have enough suits that fit women astronauts ready in time.

I guess sexism really can transcend the Earthly plane. https://t.co/vmAXI1KUDl

— Erin Blakemore (@heroinebook) March 25, 2019

Humanity: Able to land a rover on Mars and communicate with it, or have a probe get close to a comet hurtling through space.

Also humanity: Hmm, we don't seem to have this in your size, Woman Astronaut.https://t.co/JzyV2g3IJi

— Olivier Knox (@OKnox) March 26, 2019

In 1969 NASA could send a man to the moon but in 2019 they can't get a second spacesuit made in time for the all-female spacewalk of two. 🙄 https://t.co/0qTWgzYJmF

— Kristyn Wong-Tam (@kristynwongtam) March 26, 2019

Paging @CCriadoPerez 😡😡😡...what really kills me about this is NASA plans everything about a mission down to every last nut and bolt, and yet because they've never tried to send two women on a spacewalk at the same time before they Just. Didn't. REALISE. #InvisibleWomen https://t.co/kckdm2p8IZ

— Caroline Quinn (@Luo_Qing) March 26, 2019

OK I saw this yesterday, with the “we cancelled the all-female spacewalk because we don’t have enough spacesuits to fit them both.”

BOTH.

It’s two. Two women.

Get it together, NASA. https://t.co/s3oseI8GRh

— Samantha Smith (@SamSmithTweets) March 27, 2019

NASA, on the other hand denied the sexism accusations claiming that it was easier to change spacewalkers than adjust a spacesuit.

We’ve seen your tweets about spacesuit availability for Friday’s spacewalk. To clarify, we have more than 1 medium size spacesuit torso aboard, but to stay on schedule with @Space_Station upgrades, it’s safer & faster to change spacewalker assignments than reconfigure spacesuits. pic.twitter.com/tPisBHaF2p

— NASA (@NASA) March 26, 2019

On the other hand, McClain took to Twitter to defend the decision by taking all the blame and saying that it was her recommendation. McClain is now set to perform another spacewalk on April 8, but she too will be joined by a male astronaut, as per CBC News.

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. https://t.co/VU9QNaHHlK

— Anne McClain (@AstroAnnimal) March 27, 2019