Following MSC-002

Valentina Kerman walks in space — and finds something broken

For eight hours, Kerbin watched as MSC-002 became the first live-streamed crew mission — and the first to stage an EVA outside a station that could not be entered.

KSC Metro — By Corinne Alder · With reporting from the Flight Dynamics desk

For eight hours, Kerbin watched. Kerman suited up, stepped out, deployed a solar panel, found a broken airlock, and came home. NASA confirmed Basic Station decommissioned after a docking interface failure. KerbalX was directed to build a replacement station under corrected specifications.

The mission also established records the program is still citing in briefings: first three-kerbal crew on R-SLS2, first EVA, first Mach 3+ reentry on an MSC vehicle, and the catalyst for NASA's mandate that crewed vehicles carry a launch abort system.

Valentina Kerman remains the most recognised face in the program. Polls suggest the public wants her name attached to whatever comes next — including MunShot planning, where heritage and safety culture now weigh as heavily as thrust curves.