Explore Women in Space through the missions, discoveries, rivalries and collaborations that expanded humanity's reach beyond Earth. This timeline links each milestone to the wider story of science, engineering, politics and exploration, from early experiments to robotic missions, crewed flight and commercial spaceflight. It shows how ambition and innovation reshaped our understanding of the Solar System and the universe.
A New Frontier in Orbit On 16 June 1963, the trajectory of human spaceflight shifted irrevocably when Valentina Tereshkova launched aboard Vostok 6 . Her mission represented a pioneering moment in the early space age, oc...
View itemA New Frontier The launch of Vostok 6 on 16 June 1963 represented a profound shift in the demographic of space exploration. By successfully placing a woman into orbit for the first time, the mission challenged existing p...
View itemWhen Svetlana Savitskaya launched into orbit on 19 August 1982, she ended a silence that had lasted nearly two decades in the history of female space exploration. Following the pioneering Vostok 6 mission, which had carr...
View itemA New Frontier for American Astronauts On 18 June 1983, the trajectory of the American space programme shifted as Sally Ride launched aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger for the STS-7 mission. This flight represented a p...
View itemA New Chapter for the Astronaut Corps When the Space Shuttle Challenger lifted off on 18 June 1983 for the STS-7 mission, the event resonated far beyond the technical achievements of the flight itself. On board was Sally...
View itemBreaking the Extravehicular Barrier On 25 July 1984, Svetlana Savitskaya achieved a historic milestone in the history of human spaceflight by becoming the first woman to perform an extravehicular activity, commonly known...
View itemA Milestone in Extravehicular Activity On 11 October 1984, Kathryn Sullivan achieved a significant milestone in the history of human spaceflight by becoming the first American woman to conduct an extravehicular activity,...
View itemA New Era in Shuttle Operations The career of Bonnie J. Dunbar serves as a definitive case study for the evolving landscape of space exploration during the late twentieth century. As a prominent member of the Shuttle-era...
View itemA Milestone for Representation On 12 September 1992, Mae Jemison launched aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour as part of the STS-47 mission, securing her place in history as the first African American woman to travel into...
View itemA Milestone in Spaceflight Operations On 3 February 1995, Eileen Collins etched her name into the history of human spaceflight by serving as the pilot for mission STS-63 . This appointment represented a critical shift in...
View itemA Milestone in Spaceflight When Eileen Collins took the controls of the Space Shuttle Discovery on 3 February 1995, she secured her place in the history of human space exploration. As the pilot for the STS-63 mission, Co...
View itemA New Chapter in Orbital Collaboration The launch of the STS-76 mission on 22 March 1996 represented a pivotal moment in the history of international space cooperation. As the shuttle ascended, it carried Shannon Lucid t...
View itemA Milestone in Aerospace History On 19 November 1997, the landscape of human spaceflight shifted as Kalpana Chawla launched aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia for the STS-87 mission. This flight solidified her place in hi...
View itemA Milestone in Command On 23 July 1999, the launch of mission STS-93 established a new precedent for human spaceflight when Eileen Collins assumed the role of commander. This flight represented the first time a woman had...
View itemA Milestone in Command When Eileen Collins assumed command of the Space Shuttle Columbia for the STS-93 mission in July 1999, she broke a significant barrier in the history of human spaceflight. By taking the helm of the...
View itemThe Expedition 5 Mission When Peggy Whitson arrived at the International Space Station on 5 June 2002, she initiated a long-duration mission that would prove foundational to her future career. As a key member of the Expe...
View itemA Milestone in Orbital Command When Peggy Whitson assumed command of the International Space Station on 10 October 2007, she broke a significant barrier in the history of human spaceflight. As the first woman to lead an...
View itemA Milestone in Orbital Leadership When Peggy Whitson assumed command of the International Space Station in October 2007, she broke a significant barrier in the history of human spaceflight. For the first time since the s...
View itemThe Shenzhou-10 Mission On 11 June 2013, the launch of the Shenzhou-10 spacecraft represented a notable advancement in the development of China’s crewed space programme. As a member of the three-person crew, Wang Yaping...
View itemThe Shenzhou 10 Mission On 11 June 2013, Wang Yaping launched aboard the Shenzhou 10 spacecraft, a pivotal moment in the development of China’s crewed space programme. Her participation in this mission established her as...
View itemA Milestone in Extravehicular Activity On 18 October 2019, astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir stepped outside the International Space Station to conduct the first-ever all-woman spacewalk. This operation, officia...
View itemA New Benchmark in Human Spaceflight On 6 February 2020, Christina Koch returned to Earth, concluding a mission that spanned 328 consecutive days aboard the International Space Station . This extended duration establishe...
View itemA Milestone in Human Spaceflight On 6 February 2020, astronaut Christina Koch returned to Earth, concluding a mission that redefined the boundaries of human endurance in orbit. By spending hundreds of consecutive days ab...
View itemA Long-Awaited Journey On 20 July 2021, Wally Funk finally achieved a goal that had eluded her for nearly six decades when she launched aboard Blue Origin’s first crewed New Shepard mission. Her participation in this fli...
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