NASA's 5th all-female spacewalk completed — But with a twist

A Long-Awaited Walk: Astronaut McClain Finally Steps Out (Image: NASA)

Sometimes, life comes full circle in the stars. For NASA astronaut Anne McClain, a long-delayed dream took flight on Thursday.

McClain, once sidelined due to a suit issue, finally took part in the all-female spacewalk she had once missed. She was joined by astronaut Nicole Ayers, as both women from Crew-10 ventured outside the International Space Station.

Thread Trouble on the Glove

Their mission took place after the pair arrived in March. They were sent to replace two astronauts who returned to Earth early.

During the walk, McClain faced a brief setback. Mission Control noticed a loose thread near her glove’s index finger. Operations paused to inspect the gear carefully. Once cleared, she resumed her task with full confidence.

The spacewalk involved technical updates to the ISS. McClain and Ayers moved a key antenna on the station. They also installed a bracket for future solar panel upgrades.

LIVE: We're going on a spacewalk! @AstroAnnimal and @Astro_Ayers are scheduled to head out around 8am ET (1200 UTC) on a six-and-a-half hour spacewalk to upgrade the @Space_Station. https://t.co/VzqVjBGyP8
NASA (@NASA) May 1, 2025

A Milestone in Spacewalking

This mission marked the fifth all-female spacewalk ever. NASA first celebrated such a moment back in 2019. Astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir made history with their walk together.

McClain had done two spacewalks before this one. For Ayers, this marked the first time stepping outside the ISS.

Their teamwork not only ensured mission success but added another chapter to NASA’s ongoing story of inclusion in space.