First American Woman in Space and Early Milestones
Sally Ride became the first American woman in space on June 18, 1983, aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger on mission STS-7. She was 32 years old and worked as a mission specialist for NASA, operating the shuttle's robotic arm during the flight. Her flight helped open NASA astronaut roles to women and set a benchmark for future female space travelers NASA.
Women have since flown on dozens of shuttle and space station missions, serving as mission specialists, pilots, and commanders. NASA's astronaut corps now includes many women who have logged hundreds of days in orbit, with roles in science, technology, and operations aboard the International Space Station NASA.
Private Spaceflight and Recent Female Astronauts
SpaceX has launched multiple private astronaut missions that included women, such as the Inspiration4 mission in September 2021 and the Polaris Dawn mission in 2024. These missions used Crew Dragon spacecraft launched on Falcon 9 rockets from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, sending private citizens and trained crew members into low Earth orbit for several days.
Key Companies and Programs
NASA's Commercial Crew Program works with SpaceX and Boeing to send astronauts to the International Space Station. Boeing's Starliner capsule has also carried astronauts, and companies such as Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic have flown private missions with women on suborbital and orbital flights SpaceX.
Records, Training, and Current Status of Women in Spaceflight
Women have set records for longest single spaceflight, most cumulative days in space, and first female commander of the International Space Station. NASA and international agencies require astronauts to complete two years of basic training, including robotics, spacecraft systems, and survival exercises, before being assigned to a mission SpaceX.
As of the latest public data, NASA's active astronaut corps includes many women who are eligible for missions to the International Space Station, the Lunar Gateway, and future deep-space flights. Private companies continue to expand crew capacity, with Crew Dragon and Starliner regularly rotating crews and supporting research and commercial activities in orbit NASA.