At a time when both public and private space agencies are preparing to make the big comeback to the moon and send the first humans to distant Mars, the importance of women's presence in space exploration is becoming increasingly crucial. The women, who not only conquered space as astronauts, cosmonauts but also scientists in the field, are preparing in a few days to make the first historic spacewalk in a team composed entirely of women.
At 29 Marchso NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Christina Koch They will leave in space costumes from the International Space Station, 400 kilometers from Earth, to take the first women's spacewalk. Their efforts in this admittedly difficult endeavor will be supported by the Earth Control Center, with the help of another woman, Canadian Kristen Facciol, a space flight controller.
The space walk of the two women will last seven hours.
The statements of G. Danos
The President of the Cyprus Space Exploration Organization (CSEO) George Danos in a statement to KYPE stressed the importance of this project and said that the Organization puts high in its priorities the attraction of women in space, and especially young women, in its plans and activities, giving priority roles to all its programs.
"We are delighted to learn that the first spacewalk, made up only of female astronauts, has been scheduled for this month - a symbolic month for women, during which International Women's Day is celebrated," Mr Danos told KYPE.
He noted that the role of women in science and space exploration is important and absolutely necessary.
In a space, he said, like space and men-dominated astronautics, today, after many years of effort, an equality has been achieved. The fact that both female astronauts, McClain and Koch, joined the ranks of NASA in 2013, in a team of astronauts that consisted of 50% women, shows that great strides have been made and that gives us joy and optimism.
The future of humanity and the survival of our planet's biodiversity greatly benefit from the discoveries and knowledge we gain from space exploration, he said, adding that "as an organization we have always recognized the importance of gender equality and emphasized the role of women in humanity's effort to return to the moon and colonize Mars. The role of women in this effort is absolutely necessary and decisive ".
In addition, he stated that at the international level, the Organization participates in initiatives that promote equality, giving Cyprus a leading role in the issue of gender equality in the field of space exploration.
What are space walks?
Space walks take place in space outside the spacecraft or space station. The reasons that push astronauts out are to carry out necessary repairs, scientific experiments, or to test new equipment.
NASA says astronauts Christina Koch and Anne McClain will walk out of the International Space Station on March 29 on a mission to replace batteries installed last summer.
Story of women in space
The first woman to travel in space was Soviet Valentina Tereshkova in 1963. She did not write history only because she was the first female presence in space but also for the young man of her age, because she still holds the first place as the youngest woman who ever traveled in space, since she was only 26 years old at the time. She is also the only woman to have flown a space flight on her own, without other passengers.
It took almost 20 whole years after the historic Tereshkova flight for the second female cosmonaut to travel in 1982, also the Soviet Svetlana Savitskaya, who was the first woman to take a spacewalk and the first woman to go into space twice. .
It took a while, but a year later, American women entered the field with Sally Ride becoming the first female NASA astronaut in 1983.
According to 2016 data, of the 537 astronauts who went into space, only 61 were women (45 American, three Soviet, two Russian, two Chinese, two Canadian, two Japanese, one French, one Indian, one Italian, one British and a South Korean).
The space services of all developed countries are currently training many female astronauts for future missions, which will include the International Space Station (400 km from Earth), the moon (where a permanent base will be established in the next decade), and the ultimate goal is to The first human mission to Mars is expected to take place in the late 2030s.
Source: KYPE