I read the walkthrough and it says to "quickly operate" the rightmost lever on the escape pod after the cutscene. I try to do that but he keeps getting sucked out. He's holding on to the 2nd lever. it says he can't reach.
It's a bit a pixel hunt to operate the lever (I replay often that particular game and now and then I'll get sucked out too). Be fast and remember to operate the lever (not the red-green buttons).