20 Mind-Blowing Facts About Spacewalks - The cosmic tightrope

Fact 1: The first-ever spacewalk was conducted by Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov on March 18, 1965, during the Voskhod 2 mission.

Fact 2: The longest single spacewalk was conducted by Russian cosmonaut Anatoly Solovyev, lasting 8 hours and 56 minutes in 1990.

Fact 3: The first American to conduct a spacewalk was astronaut Edward White on June 3, 1965, during the Gemini 4 mission.

Fact 4: In 1996, during a spacewalk, astronaut Story Musgrave accidentally lost a tool bag, which later became space debris orbiting Earth.

Fact 5: Spacewalkers use specially designed tools, including pistol-grip tools, tethers, and foot restraints to navigate and work in microgravity.

Fact 6: Bruce McCandless became the first astronaut to conduct an untethered spacewalk using the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) during the STS-41-B mission in 1984.

Fact 7: Astronauts wear Extravehicular Mobility Units (EMUs) during spacewalks, providing life support, temperature regulation, and radiation protection.

Fact 8: Spacewalks are frequently conducted to perform maintenance, upgrades, and repairs on the ISS. The record for the most spacewalks during a single mission is held by NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson.

Fact 9: In 2013, Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano took an unintended "spacewalk selfie" when his helmet began filling with water, leading to the termination of the EVA.

Fact 10: In 1984, astronaut Kathryn D. Sullivan became the first American woman to perform a spacewalk during the STS-41-G mission.

Fact 11: Some astronauts, like Russian cosmonaut Anatoly Solovyev and NASA astronaut Jerry L. Ross, have conducted multiple spacewalks over their careers.

Fact 12: Working in microgravity poses unique challenges, such as handling tools and staying anchored, which astronauts train for extensively on Earth.

Fact 13: Over the years, there have been incidents during spacewalks, including issues with spacesuit gloves, visibility problems, and challenges in manipulating tools.

Fact 14: Astronauts undergo extensive training in a large pool called the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, which simulates the microgravity environment of space.

Fact 15: NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir made history on October 18, 2019, by conducting the first all-female spacewalk.

Fact 16: Spacewalks are often required to repair or upgrade satellites in orbit, extending their operational lifetimes.

Fact 17: Spacewalkers wear specially designed gold-coated visors on their helmets to protect their eyes from the intense sunlight in space.

Fact 18: During spacewalks, astronauts communicate with mission control and fellow crew members using radio frequencies.

Fact 19: Russian cosmonaut Anatoly Solovyev holds the record for the most cumulative time spent on spacewalks, with over 82 hours.

Fact 20: As humanity explores the Moon, Mars, and beyond, spacewalks will play a crucial role in constructing, maintaining, and exploring new habitats and spacecraft.