Women in Space

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.

1963 to 202124 items
16 Jun 1963

Valentina Tereshkova becomes first woman in space

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...

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16 Jun 1963

Valentina Tereshkova launches on Vostok 6

A 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...

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19 Aug 1982

Svetlana Savitskaya becomes second woman in space

When 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...

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18 Jun 1983

Sally Ride becomes first American woman in space

A 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...

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18 Jun 1983

Sally Ride launches on STS-7

A 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...

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25 Jul 1984

Svetlana Savitskaya performs first woman spacewalk

Breaking 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...

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11 Oct 1984

Kathryn Sullivan performs first American woman spacewalk

A 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,...

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9 Jan 1990

Bonnie J. Dunbar begins first woman-led shuttle mission role milestone

A 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...

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12 Sep 1992

Mae Jemison becomes first African American woman in space

A 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...

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3 Feb 1995

Eileen Collins becomes first woman Space Shuttle pilot

A 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...

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3 Feb 1995

Eileen Collins pilots STS-63

A 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...

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22 Mar 1996

Shannon Lucid begins long Mir mission

A 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...

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19 Nov 1997

Kalpana Chawla becomes first woman of Indian birth in space

A 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...

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23 Jul 1999

Eileen Collins becomes first woman Shuttle commander

A 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...

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23 Jul 1999

Eileen Collins commands STS-93

A 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...

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5 Jun 2002

Peggy Whitson arrives for first ISS mission

The 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...

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10 Oct 2007

Peggy Whitson becomes first woman ISS commander

A 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...

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10 Oct 2007

Peggy Whitson becomes first woman to command the ISS

A 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...

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11 Jun 2013

Wang Yaping becomes first Chinese woman in space

The 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...

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11 Jun 2013

Wang Yaping launches on Shenzhou 10

The 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...

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18 Oct 2019

First all-woman spacewalk

A 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...

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6 Feb 2020

Christina Koch completes record single mission by a woman

A 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...

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6 Feb 2020

Christina Koch sets record for longest single spaceflight by a woman

A 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...

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20 Jul 2021

Wally Funk flies on New Shepard

A 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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