![\"NASA](\"https:\/\/blogs.nasa.gov\/spacestation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2019\/10\/blog_iss061e006798.jpg\")
<\/a>NASA TV coverage has begun of the first all-woman spacewalk in history. Watch on NASA TV and the agency\u2019s\u00a0website<\/a>. Expedition 61<\/a>\u00a0Flight Engineers\u00a0Christina Koch\u00a0<\/a>and\u00a0Jessica Meir<\/a>\u00a0of NASA are making final preparations to go outside the International Space Station for today\u2019s tasks to replace a faulty power controller. They are expected to begin their spacewalk at about 7:50 a.m. EDT.<\/p>\n NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and former astronaut and acting Associate Administrator for Human Exploration and Operations Ken Bowersox will host a media teleconference at 7:15 a.m. to discuss the historical significance of the event as the agency looks forward to putting the first woman and next man on the Moon by 2024. Listen at http:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/live<\/a><\/p>\n Koch is designated extravehicular crew member 1 (EV 1), wearing the suit with red stripes. Meir is designated extravehicular crew member 2 (EV 2), wearing the suit with no stripes. Koch\u2019s helmet camera will carry the number 18, and Meir\u2019s helmet camera will carry the number 11.<\/p>\n The faulty power controller, also known as a battery charge-discharge unit (BCDU), regulates the charge to the batteries that collect and distribute solar power to the orbiting lab\u2019s systems. The unit they are replacing failed to activate following the Oct. 11 installation of new lithium-ion batteries on the space station\u2019s exterior structure.<\/p>\n Commander\u00a0Luca Parmitano<\/a>\u00a0of the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA Flight Engineer\u00a0Andrew Morgan<\/a>\u00a0will assist the spacewalkers. Parmitano will control the\u00a0Canadarm2 robotics arm<\/a>\u00a0and Morgan will provide airlock and spacesuit support.<\/p>\n Although it will be the 221st\u00a0spacewalk<\/a>\u00a0performed in support of space station assembly and maintenance, it is the first to be conducted entirely by women.\u00a0This will be Koch\u2019s fourth spacewalk and Meir\u2019s first.<\/p>\n Learn more about station activities by following the\u00a0space station blog<\/a>,\u00a0@space_station<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0@ISS_Research<\/a>\u00a0on Twitter as well as the\u00a0ISS Facebook<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0ISS Instagram<\/a>\u00a0accounts.<\/p>\n Get The Details…<\/a><\/p>\n Mark Garcia <\/p>\n Powered by WPeMatico<\/a><\/small><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" NASA TV coverage has begun of the first all-woman spacewalk in history. Watch on NASA TV and the agency\u2019s\u00a0website<\/a>. Expedition 61<\/a>\u00a0Flight Engineers\u00a0Christina Koch\u00a0<\/a>and\u00a0Jessica Meir<\/a>\u00a0of NASA are making final preparations to go outside the International Space Station for today\u2019s tasks to replace a faulty power controller. They are expected to begin their spacewalk at about 7:50 a.m. EDT.<\/p>\n NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and former astronaut and acting Associate Administrator for Human Exploration and Operations Ken Bowersox will host a media teleconference at 7:15 a.m. to discuss the historical significance of the event as the agency looks forward to putting the first woman and next man on the Moon by 2024. Listen at http:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/live<\/a><\/p>\n Koch is designated extravehicular crew member 1 (EV 1), wearing \u2026 Continue reading NASA TV is Live Now Broadcasting First All-Woman Spacewalk<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
<\/a>NASA astronaut Christina Koch (right) poses for a portrait with fellow Expedition 61 Flight Engineer Jessica Meir of NASA who is inside a U.S. spacesuit for a fit check. <\/p>\n