NASA cancels all-female spacewalk because it didn’t have enough spacesuits ready in the right size

That sad trombone you hear is the sound of NASA’s attempt at a history-making spacewalk falling apart.

On Friday, NASA was planning to conduct its first all-female spacewalk, but realized it doesn’t have enough spacesuits that are the right size for its female astronauts.

After conducting the first spacewalk this week, astronaut Anne McClain noted that the large suit she was wearing did not allow her to move effectively.

“McClain learned during her first spacewalk that a medium-size hard upper torso – essentially the shirt of the spacesuit – fits her best,” according to a statement from NASA.

Because only one medium-size torso would be ready by the planned Friday spacewalk, NASA astronaut Christina Koch will use the suit. Koch will work with astronaut Nick Hague to install lithium-ion batteries for one pair of the station’s solar arrays.

Some more shots of the #spacewalk on Friday – was privileged to work with my friend and colleague @NASA_Astronauts @AstroHague pic.twitter.com/KueUo7HXFm — Anne McClain (@AstroAnnimal) March 25, 2019

The predicament would be funny if it wasn’t so tragic. Even when some of the world’s brightest minds work to overcome sexism, their inability to make basic allowances for gender differences get in the way.