Buzz
In a significant moment for humanity, NASA’s administrator revealed that the first astronaut to step on Mars will probably be a woman. As reported by CNN, Jim Bridenstine shared this insight during his appearance on Science Friday, a popular science and technology radio show.
During the conversation, Bridenstine responded to a question from Shannon Coulter, co-founder of the Grab Your Wallet Alliance, who tweeted about the possibility of a woman participating in the next Moon landing, which might take place in 2028, should NASA’s plans come to fruition.
@scifri Loving the show right now! Since it's #InternationalWomensDay, could you ask your guest whether the next moon landing will feature a woman—something that has yet to happen!
— Shannon Coulter (@shannoncoulter) March 8, 2019
“The answer is a definite yes,” Bridenstine responded. “In fact, it’s likely that the first person to walk on the Moon will be a woman. It’s also very probable that the first person on Mars will be a woman as well.”
While it's too soon to determine which female astronauts might qualify for the Mars mission, which is tentatively set for the 2030s, Bridenstine emphasized NASA's commitment to selecting a “broad and diverse set of talent.” At present, 34 percent of NASA’s active astronauts are women. This marks a significant shift from 1978, when six women, including Sally Ride, became the first American female astronauts. Furthermore, women made up half of the 2013 astronaut class, five out of twelve astronauts in the 2017 class, and half of the most recent class of flight directors.
On March 29, the first all-female spacewalk will take place, concluding National Women’s History Month. Astronauts Anne McClain and Christina Koch will be assisted by flight directors Mary Lawrence and Kristen Facciol on the ground during the seven-hour spacewalk, which typically involves performing repairs on the International Space Station—a task traditionally done by men.
