US National Aeronautics and Space Administration astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir made history on Friday when they embarked on the first all-women spacewalk, AFP reported.

The much-anticipated milestone for NASA was achieved during a mission to replace faulty batteries on the International Space Station. The mission, expected to last nearly five hours, followed a failed first attempt in March that was cancelled because one woman’s ill-fitting suit. She was replaced by a male colleague.

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NASA said Koch had already carried out four spacewalks. Meir, meanwhile, became the 15th woman to walk in space.

“Our achievements provide inspiration to students around the world, proving that hard work can lead you to great heights, and all students should be able to see themselves in those achievements,” a NASA spokesperson said before the spacewalk, according to Reuters.

Spacewalks are formally called extravehicular activities. The all-women walk is in line with the agency’s aim to ramp up inclusivity in space. NASA is a traditionally male-dominated organisation, and has often been denounced for its sexism.

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