First Native American Woman In Space Steps Out On Spacewalk
January 20, 2023 2:49PM PST
This photo provided by NASA, astronauts NASA’s Nicole Mann and Japan’s Koichi Wakata venture out on a spacewalk at the International Space Station on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023. Their job was to install support struts for small solar panels launching this summer, part of a continuing effort by NASA to expand the space station’s power grid. (NASA via AP)
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) – The first Native American woman in space has ventured out on her first spacewalk.
NASA astronaut Nicole Mann was joined Friday by Japan’s Koichi Wakata, another first-time spacewalker.
Their job was to install support struts and brackets for new solar panels launching this summer.
The two rocketed into orbit last year with SpaceX.
Mann is a member of the Wailacki of the Round Valley Indian Tribes in Northern California.
She’s also a Marine colonel and test pilot. Wakata is Japan’s spaceflight leader with five missions.
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