First Native American Woman In Space Steps Out On Spacewalk

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The primary Native American lady in area ventured out on a spacewalk Friday to prep the Worldwide House Station for extra photo voltaic panels.

NASA astronaut Nicole Mann emerged alongside Japan’s Koichi Wakata, lugging an gear bag. Their job was to put in help struts and brackets for brand new photo voltaic panels launching this summer time, a part of a unbroken effort by NASA to broaden the area station’s energy grid.

Mann, a Marine colonel and check pilot, rocketed into orbit final fall with SpaceX, turning into the primary Native American lady in area. She is a member of the Wailacki of the Spherical Valley Indian Tribes in Northern California.

Astronauts Nicole Mann and Koichi Wakata pictured on a spacewalk on the Worldwide House Station.

by way of Related Press

Wakata, Japan’s spaceflight chief with 5 missions, additionally flew up on SpaceX. He helped construct the station through the shuttle period.

Friday was the primary spacewalk for each.

The pair will depart the area station in one other month or so.

The Related Press Well being and Science Division receives help from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Instructional Media Group. The AP is solely chargeable for all content material.