
In her high school yearbook, NASA astronaut Jessica Meir wrote “go for a spacewalk” on the list of her plans for the future, Meir said Monday during a news conference from the International Space Station. Now, she can check that box. Meir, alongside fellow astronaut and friend Christina Koch successfully conducted the first all-female spacewalk outside of the space station on Friday. While both women recognize how important and historic their spacewalk was, they also hope it becomes commonplace and isn’t regarded as a big deal in the future.
Meir and Koch have been training together for more than six years and were both selected as astronauts in 2013. Their astronaut class was the first to include 50% women and 50% men.
“We are trending in the right direction,” Meir said. “There are more females and more diversity in general in STEM fields that has led to a higher percentage of women in astronaut classes.To me, that kind of gender equality and inclusion is the way to get the job done for a successful mission.” Meir and Koch agreed that each person can provide a different way of looking at problems, coming up with creative solutions. A more diverse team can be a happier team as well, they said.











