About this episode
On July 25, 1984, Soviet cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya made history by becoming the first woman to perform a spacewalk. This groundbreaking event took place during the Soyuz T-12 mission to the Salyut 7 space station.
Savitskaya, along with her crewmates Vladimir Dzhanibekov and Igor Volk, launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Once they docked with the space station, Savitskaya and Dzhanibekov began their preparations for the spacewalk.
On July 25, the two cosmonauts donned their bulky Orlan spacesuits and ventured outside the space station. During the 3-hour and 35-minute spacewalk, Savitskaya and Dzhanibekov conducted welding experiments, testing out a new type of electron beam hand tool designed for cutting and welding materials in space.
Savitskaya's historic spacewalk was a major milestone for women in space exploration. It came 19 years after the first-ever spacewalk performed by Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov in 1965, and 20 years after Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space in 1963.
Imagine the excitement and nervousness Savitskaya must have felt as she stepped out of the airlock and into the vast expanse of space. The incredible views of Earth below and the twinkling stars above must have been breathtaking. As she worked alongside Dzhanibekov, wielding the innovative welding tool, she knew that her actions were not only advancing space technology but also breaking down barriers for women in the space program.
Savitskaya's achievement paved the way for future female spacewalkers, including NASA astronauts Kathryn Sullivan (1984) and Peggy Whitson, who holds the record for the most spacewalks by a woman (10 spacewalks totaling 60 hours and 21 minutes).
Today, we celebrate Svetlana Savitskaya's bravery, determination, and the historic leap she made for women in space on July 25, 1984.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
This episode includes AI-generated content.
Savitskaya, along with her crewmates Vladimir Dzhanibekov and Igor Volk, launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Once they docked with the space station, Savitskaya and Dzhanibekov began their preparations for the spacewalk.
On July 25, the two cosmonauts donned their bulky Orlan spacesuits and ventured outside the space station. During the 3-hour and 35-minute spacewalk, Savitskaya and Dzhanibekov conducted welding experiments, testing out a new type of electron beam hand tool designed for cutting and welding materials in space.
Savitskaya's historic spacewalk was a major milestone for women in space exploration. It came 19 years after the first-ever spacewalk performed by Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov in 1965, and 20 years after Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space in 1963.
Imagine the excitement and nervousness Savitskaya must have felt as she stepped out of the airlock and into the vast expanse of space. The incredible views of Earth below and the twinkling stars above must have been breathtaking. As she worked alongside Dzhanibekov, wielding the innovative welding tool, she knew that her actions were not only advancing space technology but also breaking down barriers for women in the space program.
Savitskaya's achievement paved the way for future female spacewalkers, including NASA astronauts Kathryn Sullivan (1984) and Peggy Whitson, who holds the record for the most spacewalks by a woman (10 spacewalks totaling 60 hours and 21 minutes).
Today, we celebrate Svetlana Savitskaya's bravery, determination, and the historic leap she made for women in space on July 25, 1984.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
This episode includes AI-generated content.
Get every episode summarized
Each time Astronomy Tonight publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from Astronomy Tonight
# Venus Transit of 1882: Measuring the Solar System
Astronomy Tonight
Mar 24, 20261:40failed
# Arthur Auwers: The Meticulous Star Mapper Who Built Celestial GPS
Astronomy Tonight
Mar 23, 20261:40completed
Hubble's Flawed Vision: From Disaster to Discovery
Astronomy Tonight
Mar 22, 20261:41failed
# The Great Daylight Comet of 1960: A Celestial Surprise
Astronomy Tonight
Mar 21, 20261:36completed