Space – The New Frontier
Many women have braved this new frontier – from Valentina Tereshkova of the Soviet Union who was the first woman to orbit the earth in 1963 to Sally Ride, the first American woman to fly in space in 1983. Even as early as 1961, the United States had 13 women with the “right stuff,” known as the FLATS (First Lady Astronaut Trainees). Our archives hold the biographies of many women in aviation but as the future unfolds we add new information every day in order to document women’s contributions to aviation and space.
United States: Current NASA Astronauts
(courtesy Johnson Space Center, links will open in a new browser window.)
Ellen S. Baker, M. D., M. P. H.
Catherine G. “Cady” Coleman, Ph. D. (Lt. Colonel, USAF)
Nancy J. Currie, Ph. D. (Lt. Colonel, USA)
Kathryn P. “Kay” Hire (Commander, U. S. Naval Reserve)
Dorothy M. Metcalf-Lindenburger
Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper (Lt. Commander, USN)
Sunita L. Williams (Lt. Commander, USN)
United States: Astronaut Candidates:
(courtesy Johnson Space Center, links will open in a new browser window.)
The term astronaut candidate refers to individuals who have been selected by NASA as candidates for the NASA astronaut corps and are currently undergoing a candidacy training program at the Johnson Space Center. There are currently no candidates in the program.
United States: Payload Specialists:
(courtesy Johnson Space Center, links will open in a new browser window.)
United States: Former Astronauts:
Kalpana Chawla, Ph. D. (deceased)
Laurel B. Clark, M. D. (Commander, USN, deceased)
Eileen M. Collins (Colonel, USAF)
Patricia C. Hilliard, M. D.(deceased)
Pamela A. Melroy (Lt. Colonel, USAF)
Lisa M. Nowak (Lt. Commander, USN)
Susan L. (Still) Kilrain (Commander, USN retired)
Wendy B. Lawrence (Commander, USN)
Sharon Christa McAuliffe (deceased)
M. Rhea Seddon, M. D. (courtesy Johnson Space Center, link will open in a new browser window.)
United States: FLATS (First Lady Astronaut Trainees – Lovelace Clinic Class of 1961):
Myrtle “K” Thompson Cagle
Jerrie Cobb
Jan Dietrich
Marion Dietrich (deceased)
Mary Wallace “Wally” Funk II
Jane Hart
Jean Hixson (deceased)
Gene Nora Stumbough Jessen
Irene Leverton
Sarah Lee Gorelick Ratley
Bernice “B” Steadman
Geraldine “Gerri” Sloan Truhill
Rhea Hurrle Allison Woltman
International Astronauts
Canada
Roberta Lynn Bondar, O.C., O.ONT., M.D., PH.D., F.R.C.P.© (Former -Payload Specialist)
Russia
Elena V. Kondakova (courtesy Johnson Space Center, link will open in a new browser window.)
Former Cosmonauts
Svetlana Yevgenyevna Savitskaya
Japan
Chiaki Mukai, M. D., Ph. D. (Payload Specialist)
