NASA is celebrating 20 years since one of its astronauts exited the ISS’ Quest airlock into space. The historic spacewalk happened on July 21, 2001, and was one of the 240 spacewalks that occurred over the span of two decades.
Earlier spacewalks from 1998 to early 2001 were performed for the construction of the ISS, with the space agency’s space shuttle transporting parts of the habitable satellite into orbit. Since the first spacewalk, astronauts from more than 10 countries have taken part.
NASA ensures safety of astronauts
NASA shared a video showing astronaut Mike Gernhardt, who was part of the first spacewalk. The astronaut describes it as a “huge experience” that involved years of preparation. He said during early spacewalks, he and his fellow crew members developed several tools that are still in use. Their tools include a special bag to carry equipment, and a body restraint tether used to quickly secure them while moving to a new spot outside the ISS.
While these spacewalks are risky, NASA has exceptional training methods, safety procedures, and specifically designed equipment to prevent dangerous incidents. Thankfully no such accidents have occurred during any spacewalks, but there have been some unnerving events in the last two decades.
Future of spacewalks
One such event occurred when Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano almost drowned during a spacewalk in 2013. His helmet started filling with water preventing him from breathing properly. But thanks to his training, he managed to keep his calm and reach the airlock safely, where the issue, was safely resolved.
As for the future spacewalks, Gernhardt said many more are yet to be performed, including on the moon in the coming years, when the space agency sends astronauts to the lunar surface again. These spacewalks will be geared much more toward science and exploration rather than maintenance and upgrade word that is usually done aboard the ISS.
The first American to perform a spacewalk was Ed White in 1965. Recently, astronauts exited the space laboratory to set up new solar panels to give it a power boost. The new panels are smaller in size but produce the same amount of energy.
