Extravehicular activity

Extravehicular activity (EVA), also known as a spacewalk, is any activity done by an astronaut or cosmonaut outside a spacecraft beyond the Earth's atmosphere. The term "extravehicular" itself literally means "outside the vehicle". In Hebrew, EVA is referred to as פעילות חוץ-מסלולית (P'uliyot Chutz-Mislulit). In Russian, it is called выход в открытый космос (Vykhod v otkrytyy kosmos). EVAs can be conducted for various purposes, such as repairing satellites, conducting scientific experiments, or testing new equipment. The first EVA was performed by Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov on March 18, 1965, and the first American EVA was conducted by Edward H. White on June 3, 1965. During an EVA, astronauts wear specialized spacesuits, known as Extravehicular Mobility Units (EMUs), which provide life support and protection from the harsh environment of space. The duration and complexity of EVAs can vary greatly, with some lasting only a few minutes and others extending for several hours.

Wikipedia Information

Activity done by an astronaut or cosmonaut outside a spacecraft

Extravehicular activity (EVA) is any activity done by an astronaut in outer space outside a spacecraft. In the absence of a breathable Earthlike atmosphere, the astronaut is completely reliant on a space suit for environmental support. EVA includes spacewalks and lunar or planetary surface exploration. In a stand-up EVA (SEVA), an astronaut stands through an open hatch but does not fully leave the spacecraft. EVAs have been conducted by the Soviet Union/Russia, the United States, and China; astronauts from Canada, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, and the European Space Agency have also participated in EVAs conducted by those nations.

Last modified: 2025-11-11T09:54:27ZView full article on Wikipedia