Extravehicular activity

Exploring the Final Frontier: A Journey Through Extravehicular Activity (EVA)

Imagine stepping out into the vast, silent expanse of space—what would it feel like? This is exactly what astronauts do during extravehicular activity (EVA), a term that encapsulates everything from spacewalks to lunar or planetary surface exploration. EVAs are not just about floating in space; they’re about pushing human limits and expanding our understanding of the universe.

The First Steps

Back in 1965, Alexei Leonov became the first person to perform a spacewalk, marking a significant milestone in human history. But what was it like for him? Was it as easy as stepping out of your front door? According to Leonov himself, it wasn’t. He faced stiffening in his suit and had to struggle to re-enter the capsule through an airlock. This experience highlighted the challenges that come with venturing into the vacuum of space.

American Pioneers

The first American spacewalk was performed by Ed White on Gemini IV in 1965, lasting a mere 21 minutes. Imagine being able to float outside your spacecraft for just that long! Despite the short duration, White faced his own set of challenges with his tether due to a defective hatch mechanism. However, later astronauts like Buzz Aldrin managed to work outside without tiring, thanks to underwater EVA training.

The Soviet Union’s Contributions

The Soviets also made significant contributions to EVAs. On January 16, 1969, they performed the second and third spacewalks. How did these early pioneers handle the rigors of spacewalking? The first woman to perform an EVA was Svetlana Savitskaya in 1984, marking a historic moment for women in space exploration.

Moon Walks and Beyond

The Apollo missions saw several EVAs on the Moon. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin performed the first moonwalk on Apollo 11 in 1969, followed by fifteen more EVA repairs among six Apollo crews. Can you imagine the excitement of walking on the lunar surface?

Repair Missions and Innovations

The Skylab 2 mission saw Charles ‘Pete’ Conrad, Joseph Kerwin, and Paul J. Weitz make the first EVA repairs in 1973. How did they manage to fix things in space? The Soviets resumed EVAs after Skylab, making four between December 20, 1977, and July 30, 1982. In 1984, Bruce McCandless II performed the first untethered spacewalk, marking a new era in EVA technology.

Modern EVAs

China became the third country to independently carry out an EVA on September 27, 2008, during the Shenzhou 7 mission. Since then, China has conducted several EVAs for the construction of the Tiangong space station. In 2024, SpaceX conducted its first private sector-financed EVA during the Polaris Dawn mission.

Records and Milestones

Anatoly Solovyev holds the records for most EVAs (16) and greatest cumulative duration spent in EVA (82 hr and 22 min). Svetlana Savitskaya became the first woman to perform an EVA, while Peggy Whitson holds the record for most EVAs and cumulative duration by a woman. Christina Koch and Jessica Meir were the first all-female EVA team in 2019.

Firsts and Honors

The US Post Office issued stamps commemorating Ed White’s first American spacewalk in 1967, recognizing his pioneering spirit. NASA also employed a camp-out procedure to reduce decompression sickness risk for EVAs from the International Space Station.

From Alexei Leonov to Nicole Aunapu Mann, each EVA is a testament to human ingenuity and courage. As we continue to explore space, these milestones remind us of the incredible journey that lies ahead. The next time you look up at the stars, think about what it might take for someone to step out into that vast expanse—because every EVA is a leap forward in our quest to understand the universe.