Moon, Tomorrow the Tomorrow the Universe Universe

Zachary Seaton Zachary Seaton

On July 20th, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on another celestial body; the moon. Following him, eleven other men have stepped foot on the moon. This moment served as a pivotal moment in human history, marking the start of our expansion outwards into the universe. Countries across the entire world celebrated this accomplishment of humanity as it brought the entire world together. This accomplishment brought countless numbers of people together, and inspired an enormous wave of STEM careers in our society. And yet, all of the Apollo missions have been crewed by men. No woman has ever stepped foot on the moon. Despite historic prejudice against women in STEM, here are some female astronauts who paved the way for other women in STEM and space, and whose accomplishments will be eternally engraved in the foundation of spaceflight:

Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman in space (1963), circling the Earth forty eight times aboard the Vostok 6, and spending more time in space than all of NASA’s Mercury astronauts combined.

Mae Jemison became the first woman of color in space (1992) aboard the space shuttle Endeavour. She holds a degree in Chemical Engineering and African-American Studies from Stanford University, and later attended Cornell Medical School, earning a Doctorate in Medicine.

Susan Helms flew up to the International Space Station as the first female crew member on the ISS (2001).

In 1980 she was a part of the first class to ever include women graduating from the United States Air Force Academy.

But what's happening today? It’s been over fifty years since the Apollo missions ended, and since then no human being has been back to the moon…and that’s all about to change. The Artemis program, named after the ancient Greek goddess of the moon and hunting, is propelling the first woman in all of human history to the moon.

The Artemis program aims to bring a sustained human presence back to the moon. In coming years, Artemis missions will build the foundations for future exploration and experimentation. A total of nine women have been selected for this extraordinary program; one of them destined to make history.

Christina Koch, Jessica Meir, Anne McClain, Kate Rubins, Stephanie Wilson, Nicole Mann, Jasmin Moghbeli, Kayla Barron, and Jessica Meir were the nine women selected to take the next step in space exploration. All of these women hold extremely high degrees in fields of engineering, physics, geology, biology, and more! They are all prepared to serve as an inspiration for young girls and other women in STEM all across the country and world, all while solidifying their place as some of the best in their field.

We’re taking our first steps towards an infinite expanse of mystery, so let’s celebrate some of the brave women in STEM who are leading the way. For more information, go to “www.nasa.gov” or follow NASA on its many socials!