The women of NASA have been destroying every stereotype, crunching numbers, designing spacecraft, and heading up impressive missions since the dawn of the space program. Unfortunately, these amazing women have largely been ignored in the history books. Let’s take the time to explore their contributions and celebrate their big wins. Here are 15 fun facts about the brilliant, bold women who helped shape NASA.
Katherine Johnson Calculated the Moon Landing
Katherine Johnson did what we only trust computers to do today–do the math by hand to get Apollo 11 to the Moon and back in one piece. Her calculations were so spot on that astronaut John Glenn requested her by name to verify the numbers before his own mission. The film Hidden Figures explored her story.
Sally Ride–First American Woman in Space
Physicist Sally Ride became the first American woman to enter space in 1983 while aboard the Challenger. At just 32 years old, she still holds the record as the youngest American astronaut ever to launch into orbit. She later founded an educational nonprofit to inspire kids to enter the STEM fields.
Women Were NASA’s First “Computers”
Before laptops, women like Mary Jackson and Dorothy Vaughan worked as “human computers.” They performed complex calculations for flight paths and rocket trajectories. These incredible women at Langley Research Center paved the way for NASA’s earliest successes–often under segregated conditions. They went on to become mathematicians, engineers, and science trailblazers.
Peggy Whitson’s 665 Days in Space
Peggy Whitson maintains the record for most days spent in space by an American astronaut–655 days total. She was also the first female chief of astronauts at NASA and the first woman to command the famous International Space Station. Impressively, she didn’t even enter space until she was 41.
Longest Spaceflight by a Woman–Christina Koch
With 328 consecutive days in space during a 2019–2020 mission aboard the ISS, astronaut Christina Koch set the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman. During her time in space, her mission was to help research how long-duration space travel affects the female body. This was key data for potential missions to Mars.
First Black Woman in Space–Mae Jemison
Dr. Mae Jemison rewrote the history books when she became the first Black woman to travel into space in 1992. She brought a photo of Bessie Coleman with her on the mission to commemorate the first Black woman to hold her pilot’s license. A physician, engineer, and dancer, Jemison left a mark on NASA and continued to advocate science education.
JoAnn Morgan & Apollo 11
On that storied day when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, JoAnn Morgan was the only woman in the launch control room at Kennedy Space Center. She faced decades of gender bias along the way but still managed to be a trailblazing instrumentation engineer and eventually became the center’s first female senior director.
Women Helped Design the Space Shuttle Cockpit
Astronaut candidates like Rhea Seddon and Sally Ride played a huge role in developing the space shuttle. They offered feedback on the cockpit layout and control panel. Their invaluable input helped to ensure that the design worked for a wide range of body types and skill sets–a welcome advancement for women in the field.
All-Female Spacewalk
Jessica Meir and Christina Koch made history in 2019 with the first-ever all-female spacewalk. Spending over seven hours outside of the ISS repairing a power controller, the women aided in maintaining a precious scientific hub. This wasn’t merely a milestone–it was a bold statement about how far women in STEM have come.
First Woman on the Moon
While not completed yet, NASA’s upcoming Artemis mission is shooting for the stars and landing humans back on the Moon. This time, we will bear witness to the first woman on our celestial neighbor. The Artemis program aims to land the first woman and the first person of color on the lunar surface, forging a brand new chapter in representation.
Women Have Designed Major Space Instruments
Often called the “Mother of Hubble,” Nancy Roman and women like her were behind the scenes for some of the most historic moments in space travel. Roman helped design and plan the Hubble Space Telescope–an invention that reshaped our understanding of the universe. You can now see her portrait on $1 coins as a part of the American Women Quarters program.
NASA Has a Female Deputy Administrator
Today, Pam Melroy serves as NASA’s current Deputy Administrator. A former astronaut and retired U.S. Air Force test pilot, Melroy is one of only two women to ever command a space shuttle. She’s now tasked with guiding NASA’s missions and goals, displaying that leadership at the top can be both smart and space-savvy.
Women Heading Up Mars Missions
Dr. Swati Mohan, an Indian-American aerospace engineer, played a huge role in assuring NASA’s Perseverance rover landing on Mars in 2021 was possible. Leading guidance and control operations, her calm voice guided the rover during its dramatic touchdown. It was a reminder that women of color are at the forefront of NASA’s future.
Women Help Monitor Space Weather
Dr. Nicola Fox, a NASA heliophysicist, oversees NASA’s studies of solar storms, magnetic fields, and cosmic radiation. Her work aids in predicting solar flares that could inadvertently affect satellites, power grids, and astronauts. Today, she is NASA’s associate administrator for science—the first woman to hold the position.
Over 100 Women Have Trained as NASA Astronauts
Today, there are over 100 women who have completed astronaut training at NASA. That number continues to grow with each passing year. From pilots and engineers to doctors and mathematicians, women continue to prove there’s no one mold for what makes a great astronaut–only the fervent drive to reach for the stars.
