All articles tagged with #women in space
Eileen Collins made history as NASA's first female space shuttle pilot and commander, overcoming challenges and breaking gender barriers in the aerospace industry, and inspiring future generations of women in science and space exploration.
Emily Calandrelli, known as "Space Gal," became the 100th woman in space during a Blue Origin mission, but faced online harassment for her emotional reaction to the experience. Despite the trolls, Calandrelli remains focused on inspiring others, particularly women and young girls, with her journey. Blue Origin removed the original video of the launch due to offensive comments, but Calandrelli refuses to let negativity overshadow her achievement.
Emily Calandrelli, known as "The Space Gal," became the 100th woman to fly into space aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket on November 22, 2024. The suborbital flight, which lasted about 10 minutes, included six passengers and marked Blue Origin's ninth human spaceflight. Calandrelli, an advocate for women in STEM, celebrated her achievement as a milestone for female representation in space exploration. The mission reached an altitude above the Kármán line, the recognized boundary of space, before safely returning to Earth.
Over 50 women space leaders shared words of inspiration and advice, reflecting on the progress made by women in the space industry and the challenges still to overcome. From astronauts to CEOs, they emphasized the importance of authenticity, resilience, and diversity in shaping the future of space exploration. Their messages encourage women to embrace their unique perspectives, pursue their passions, and empower others to join and succeed in the space industry.
Kellie Gerardi, a Jupiter native and mother, is set to become a payload specialist on the Galactic 5 research mission with Virgin Galactic. She will conduct research related to human health care and fluid dynamics in space. Gerardi aims to inspire future generations, especially women, to dream big and pursue careers in STEM. Her flight window opens on November 2nd, and upon her return to Earth, she will become one of fewer than 100 women in history to have flown to space.
NASA has announced that an all-woman spacewalk is scheduled for later this month, marking only the fourth time in history that an extravehicular activity (EVA) will be conducted by two women astronauts. The spacewalk, set for October 30, was delayed due to a leak on the International Space Station (ISS). NASA officials have stated that this will not be the last all-woman spacewalk, as the agency continues to prioritize diversity and inclusion in space exploration. The upcoming spacewalk will focus on maintenance tasks, including the removal of a faulty electronics box and the replacement of a bearing assembly on the solar alpha rotary joint.
A new study suggests that the first astronauts to travel to Mars should be all women due to their smaller and lighter bodies, which require fewer resources and have a higher likelihood of coming back healthier. The study found that male astronauts require significantly more oxygen, calories, and water, making all-female crews more efficient for the first Mars landing. The push towards smaller Mars habitat modules also supports the idea of all-female crews.
Christina Koch, who set the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, will become the first woman to fly to the Moon as part of the Artemis 2 mission. The mission will confirm that NASA's Orion spacecraft operates as expected with a crew on board in deep space. Koch will act as a mission specialist, supporting Artemis 2 with her extensive experience in engineering and working in space. She hopes to inspire the next generation and see the first female put footprints on the Moon.
Nicole Mann, the first Native American woman to leave Earth as commander of SpaceX Crew-5, emphasizes the importance of sharing the unique journeys of astronauts and the overall diversity of crews. Mann believes that children can be motivated to reach for their dreams by seeing themselves represented in space exploration. The recent Crew-5 mission concluded the longest-ever streak of consecutive women missions in space, highlighting the progress made in diversity. Mann and her crewmates from Russia and Japan emphasize the importance of partnerships between men and women in space exploration to prepare for tougher missions to the moon or other planets in the coming decades.