In a world where digital information can be surprisingly ephemeral and historical narratives sometimes undergo revision, I felt compelled to create and share these comprehensive lists documenting women’s contributions to space exploration both in the United States and internationally.

The story of humanity reaching for the stars has never been one of a single gender, nationality, or background. Women have been pivotal engineers, mathematicians, astronauts, and leaders throughout the history of space exploration, yet their stories are often less prominently featured in mainstream narratives. From Katherine Johnson’s critical orbital calculations to Valentina Tereshkova breaking the ultimate glass ceiling as the first woman in space, these pioneers have fundamentally shaped our journey beyond Earth.

By collecting these names and achievements in one place, we create not just a historical record, but a source of inspiration. Young women interested in STEM fields deserve to see clear evidence that people like them have always been essential to humanity’s greatest adventures. The diverse backgrounds of these women—spanning nationalities, ethnicities, and disciplines—demonstrate that space exploration has been and continues to be enriched by diverse perspectives and talents.

These lists serve multiple purposes: they honor those who blazed trails under often challenging circumstances, they provide a more complete and accurate historical record, and they remind us that the future of space exploration will continue to need the brilliance and dedication of people from all backgrounds.

I hope these compilations help ensure that the full, diverse history of space exploration remains accessible, celebrated, and protected from being minimized or forgotten. This isn’t about rewriting history—it’s about preserving it in its true, rich complexity.

Pioneering Female Astronauts

First American Women in Space

• Sally Ride (1951-2012): First American woman in space (1983, STS-7)
• Judith Resnik (1949-1986): Second American woman in space (1984, STS-41-D), perished in Challenger disaster
• Kathryn Sullivan (1951-): First American woman to walk in space (1984, STS-41-G)
• Anna Fisher (1949-): First mother in space (1984, STS-51-A)
• Shannon Lucid (1943-): Held U.S. record for longest stay in space by any American (188 days, Mir space station, 1996)

Space Shuttle Era Pioneers

• Mae Jemison (1956-): First African American woman in space (1992, STS-47)
• Ellen Ochoa (1958-): First Hispanic woman in space (1993, STS-56), later became NASA Johnson Space Center Director
• Eileen Collins (1956-): First female Space Shuttle pilot (1995, STS-63) and commander (1999, STS-93)
• Susan Helms (1958-): Co-holds record for longest spacewalk (8 hours, 56 minutes, 2001)
• Kalpana Chawla (1962-2003): First Indian-born woman in space, perished in Columbia disaster
• Laurel Clark (1961-2003): Mission specialist who perished in Columbia disaster
• Barbara Morgan (1951-): First educator astronaut (2007, STS-118)

ISS Era Astronauts

• Peggy Whitson (1960-): First female ISS commander (2007), holds record for most spacewalks by a woman (10), most cumulative spacewalk time by a woman (60+ hours), and longest cumulative time in space by any American (665 days)
• Sunita Williams (1965-): Completed multiple ISS expeditions, held records for longest spaceflight by a woman
• Karen Nyberg (1969-): Mechanical engineer and astronaut who served on ISS
• Tracy Caldwell Dyson (1969-): Chemist and astronaut who spent 176 days in space
• Nicole Stott (1962-): Completed two spaceflights and performed an EVA on ISS
• Cady Coleman (1960-): Logged over 180 days in space on Space Shuttle and ISS
• Christina Koch (1979-): Set record for longest single spaceflight by a woman (328 days)
• Jessica Meir (1977-): Participated in first all-female spacewalk with Christina Koch
• Anne McClain (1979-): NASA astronaut who served on ISS for Expedition 58/59
• Serena Auñón-Chancellor (1976-): Physician and astronaut who served on ISS

Recent and Current Astronauts

• Kate Rubins (1978-): First person to sequence DNA in space
• Jasmin Moghbeli (1983-): Selected as NASA astronaut in 2017, commanding Crew-7 SpaceX mission
• Kayla Barron (1987-): Part of NASA’s Artemis program
• Jessica Watkins (1988-): First Black woman to serve extended mission on ISS
• Stephanie Wilson (1966-): Most experienced female African American astronaut
• Megan McArthur (1971-): Oceanographer and NASA astronaut
• Shannon Walker (1965-): Physicist and astronaut who served on ISS expeditions
• Raja Chari (1977-): Commander of SpaceX Crew-3 mission
• Jeanette Epps (1970-): Selected for ISS expedition
• Zena Cardman (1987-): Biologist selected as NASA astronaut in 2017

Notable Female Engineers at NASA

Early Pioneers

• Katherine Johnson (1918-2020): Mathematician whose orbital mechanics calculations were critical to early spaceflight
• Dorothy Vaughan (1910-2008): First African American manager at NACA/NASA, mathematics expert and computer programmer
• Mary Jackson (1921-2005): NASA’s first Black female engineer
• Christine Darden (1942-): Mathematician and aerospace engineer who researched supersonic flight and sonic booms
• Annie Easley (1933-2011): Computer scientist who developed software for Centaur rocket stage
• Kitty O’Brien Joyner (1916-1993): First female engineer at NACA (NASA’s predecessor)

Project and Mission Leaders

• JoAnn Morgan (1940-): First female engineer at Kennedy Space Center and first woman in Launch Control during Apollo 11
• Frances “Poppy” Northcutt (1943-): First woman in Mission Control during Apollo program
• Jeanne Crews (1930s-): Developed the “bumper” shield that protected Skylab from micrometeorites
• Nancy Roman (1925-2018): NASA’s first Chief of Astronomy and “Mother of Hubble”
• Donna Shirley (1941-): Manager of Mars Exploration Program and first woman to manage a NASA program
• Marjorie Rhodes Townsend (1930-2015): First woman to manage a spacecraft launch at NASA

Contemporary Leaders and Engineers

• Judith Resnik (1949-1986): Electrical engineer before becoming an astronaut
• Nujoud Merancy: Chief of the Exploration Mission Planning Office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center
• Julie Webster: Spacecraft Operations Team Manager for Cassini Mission
• Amy Ross: Spacesuit engineer who designs next-generation suits
• Diana Trujillo: Aerospace engineer who served as flight director for Mars Perseverance rover
• Swati Mohan: Guidance and control operations lead for Mars 2020 mission
• Christina Hernandez: Systems engineer who worked on Mars rover instruments
• Kathy Lueders: First woman to lead NASA’s Human Spaceflight Office
• Trudy Kortes: Director of Technology Demonstrations at NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate
• Elizabeth Turtle: Planetary scientist leading the Dragonfly mission to Saturn’s moon Titan
• Sandra Cauffman: Deputy Director of NASA’s Earth Science Division
• Lori Garver: Former NASA Deputy Administrator who played key role in Commercial Crew Program
• Christyl Johnson: Deputy Director for Technology and Research Investments at NASA Goddard

Legacy Engineers and Contributors

• Valerie Thomas (1943-): Developed image processing systems and invented the illusion transmitter
• Susan G. Finley (1936-): Longest-serving woman at NASA/JPL, specializing in spacecraft tracking
• Margaret Hamilton (1936-): Director of software engineering for Apollo program, pioneered concepts of software engineering
• Dana Ulery (1938-): First female engineer at JPL in 1960s
• Barbara Crawford Johnson: Integration manager for LEM (Lunar Excursion Module)
• Helen T. Wells: One of few female engineers at Marshall Space Flight Center during Apollo
• Sylvia Salinas: Early programmer for NASA in the 1960s