Beyond Astronauts: Careers in Space
When people think about working in the space industry, becoming an astronaut is often the first career that comes to mind. But behind every space mission is a team of people working on Earth, from engineers designing spacecraft to scientists studying distant planets. Exploring space involves far more careers than many people might realize. Engineers […]
Dr. Roberta Bondar: Canada’s First Woman in Space
On January 22, 1992, Dr. Roberta Bondar launched aboard Space Shuttle Discovery, becoming the first Canadian woman in space. A physician, scientist, and neurologist from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, she also became the world’s first neurologist to travel to space. Her journey marked an important milestone in Canadian space history. During the eight-day STS-42 mission, […]
Why Spacesuit Fit Matters for Women in Space
In March 2019, NASA planned for astronauts Anne McClain and Christina Koch to complete the first all-woman spacewalk. Scheduled for March 29, the two were set to work outside the International Space Station, installing new batteries to help power the station. The spacewalk was part of a series of missions to upgrade the station’s power […]
The Women Behind the Apollo Missions
On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 made history when humans first landed on the Moon. While astronauts became the faces of the mission, thousands of people worked behind the scenes to make it possible. Among them were women whose expertise helped guide spacecraft, support crews, and solve some of Apollo’s most demanding technical problems. At […]
Wally Funk – Reaching Space at 82
On July 20, 2021, Wally Funk travelled to space at the age of 82. For the experienced American pilot, it was a journey she had hoped to make for more than six decades. In the early 1960s, Funk had participated in a privately funded program that tested whether women could meet the same physical requirements […]
Christina Koch: The First Woman to Travel Around the Moon
In April 2026, NASA astronaut Christina Koch became the first woman to travel around the Moon. She was one of four astronauts aboard Artemis II, NASA’s first crewed mission to the Moon in more than 50 years. The mission began on April 1, 2026, with Koch joining NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover, along […]
Women in Space – Why Representation Matters
When we hear about space exploration, astronauts are often the first people who come to mind. However, much of the work behind space missions takes place on Earth, involving engineers, scientists, researchers, and many other professionals. Women have contributed to these fields for decades, although their work has not always received the same recognition or […]
Suni Williams – Nine Months in Space
When NASA astronaut Sunita “Suni” Williams travelled into space on June 5, 2024, she expected to be away for just over a week. Instead, she would spend more than nine months on the International Space Station. Williams and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore were taking part in Boeing’s first crewed Starliner test flight, a mission intended […]
The First Woman in Space – Valentina Tereshkova
On June 16, 1963, Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to travel into space. At just 26 years old, she made history aboard the Soviet spacecraft Vostok 6. Over nearly three days, she completed 48 orbits of Earth, becoming the youngest woman to complete an orbital spaceflight, a record she still holds. She also remains […]
Dr. Kalpana Chawla – The First Indian Woman in Space
Dr. Kalpana Chawla was the first Indian woman and first South Asian American woman to fly in space. She was an engineer, pilot, and astronaut who served as a mission specialist on two Space Shuttle Columbia missions, spending over 30 days in space. During STS-87 in 1997, she played a key role in operating the shuttle’s robotic arm to deploy the […]