Women in Space: from Valentina Tereshkova to the Artemis Program
From invisible pioneers… to leading figures in space exploration
Just over 50 years ago, during the Apollo 11 Moon Landing, humanity took one of the most important steps in its history: setting foot on the Moon for the first time.
But that iconic image had a clear absence: there were no women astronauts.
And yet, the history of women in space had already begun.
In 1963, Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to travel into space aboard the Vostok 6 mission. For nearly three days, she orbited the Earth alone, opening a door that would barely be crossed again for many years. Because the problem was never capability. It was opportunity.
📊 Women in STEM: real progress, but persistent inequality
Progress is undeniable, but data shows that equality has not yet been achieved.
- Only 33% of researchers worldwide are women
👉 Source: UNESCO - Approximately 35% of students in STEM fields are women
👉 Source: UNESCO - In Europe, women represent only 19% of ICT specialists
👉 Source: Eurostat - In artificial intelligence, female representation drops below 25%
👉 Source: World Economic Forum
This reflects a clear reality: women have entered science, but not on equal terms.
🚀 The invisible pioneers of the Apollo program
While astronauts were traveling into space, many women were making those missions possible.
🧠 Katherine Johnson: the mathematics behind the Moon landing
Katherine Johnson was one of the key figures in the Apollo program.
- She calculated critical orbital trajectories
- She manually verified early computer calculations
- She ensured the precision of missions like Apollo 11
Her work was essential, although it remained largely unrecognized for decades.
💻 Margaret Hamilton: the software that saved the mission
Margaret Hamilton led the development of the Apollo lunar module software.
- She designed the Apollo navigation system
- She implemented real-time error detection systems
- She prevented mission failure during the Moon landing
Her work laid the foundations of modern software engineering.
🌕 Artemis: a turning point
The Artemis program marks a before and after in the history of space exploration.
For the first time, a woman will walk on the Moon.
👩🚀 Christina Koch: a new generation
Christina Koch represents this new era.
- Electrical engineer and NASA astronaut
- Record holder for the longest single spaceflight by a woman (328 days)
- Member of the Artemis II mission
Her presence is not symbolic. It is the result of decades of progress in science and society.
Christina Koch represents a new generation of space explorers. With a career shaped by both engineering and extreme environments on Earth —from Antarctica to remote research stations— her work combines science, resilience, and adaptability under extreme conditions.
In 2019, she set the record for the longest continuous spaceflight by a woman, with 328 days aboard the International Space Station, participating in scientific experiments, spacewalks, and complex operations in microgravity.
🔭 Today’s science: women in astrophysics
Today, women are actively involved at all levels of scientific research.
From places like the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory in La Palma, they contribute to studies on:
- Exoplanets
- Galaxies and the evolution of the Universe
- Astronomical instrumentation
Their role is no longer exceptional. It is essential.
🌍 The challenge ahead
Despite progress, significant challenges remain:
- Lower representation in leadership positions
- Higher dropout rates in advanced scientific careers
- Persistent structural and cultural barriers
The challenge is no longer just access, but retention, progression, and recognition.
✨ A new image of exploration
In 1963, a woman orbited the Earth for the first time. In 1969, there were no women on the Moon. Today, they are part of the missions that will return there.
And that changes everything. Because talent was never the barrier. The barrier was who had the opportunity. And that —although not completely— is beginning to change.