At four years old, Farah Al Fulfulee would climb up to the rooftop each night, gazing at the sky in quiet awe. The vastness above both unsettled and fascinated her – a silent, endless canvas that stirred more questions than answers. What were the stars? Why were they there? And what did they mean?

Noticing her growing passion, Al Fulfulee's father began bringing home books and magazines about space. It was through those pages that she first encountered NASA – and with it, the idea that exploring the cosmos wasn’t just a dream, but a real possibility. That spark became fuel. Years later, she would rank among the top 10 students in her engineering class.

Al Fulfulee didn’t attend her graduation party in a gown. She turned up in a space suit. For her, it wasn’t just a costume. It was a statement of intent, shaped by childhood dreams and a vision of life she hoped to lead.

But once the graduation photographs were tucked away, reality crept back in: her home country lacked a space agency, offered no formal routes for engineers, and left even fewer openings for women aspiring to build careers in aerospace.

Like many women drawn to the space sector, Al Fulfulee came to understand that academic achievement, however hard-earned, was merely the starting point –  the first step in a long journey shaped by perseverance.

As Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives gain prominence across the space and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) sectors and with Blue Origin’s all-female crewed flight in April sparking both celebration and controversy, the conversation around women in space is shifting.

But beyond the headlines and high-profile launches, who are the women who have driven – and continue to influence– the future of space exploration and innovation?

From cutting-edge researchers to space shuttle pilots, seven women share their unique experiences and pathways into this exclusive sector and discuss what it's really like to succeed in an industry still overwhelmingly dominated by men.

Their journeys into the space industry haven’t always been linear. And yet, these women have challenged boundaries, shifted perceptions and continue to expand what’s possible – not just for themselves, but for every girl who’s ever looked up towards the sky and wondered, Could I go there too?

Women making history

Valentina Tereshkova made history in 1963 as the first woman to orbit Earth aboard Vostok 6. Her mission lasted just under three days (two days, 23 hours, and 12 minutes). With a single flight, she logged more flight time than all the US Mercury astronauts who had flown up to that point combined. Both Tereshkova and her fellow cosmonaut, Valery Bykovsky, were record-holders. Tereshkova’s mission marked a pivotal moment in the history of women in space– illuminating the path for future generations of female astronauts to pursue their own ambitions in space exploration.

Stepping into the 'moon boots' of Tereshkova, NASA astronaut Sally Ride made history on June 18, 1983, becoming the first American woman in space. She launched alongside her four crew mates aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger on mission STS-7. Ride was a member of NASA Astronaut Group 8, the first American selection class to include women, chosen in 1978. Her journey to space was a significant milestone for women in space exploration as it spotlighted the advancements in gender inclusion within NASA.

Before Mae Jemison, no Black woman had ever travelled to space – a stark reflection of the systemic barriers that defined NASA’s early astronaut program. In 1987, Jemison changed the space game, becoming the first African-American woman selected for astronaut training. A Stanford and Cornell graduate, she brought with her a background in engineering, medicine, and service in the Peace Corps. Jemison’s achievements opened new ground in the space industry – advancing racial diversity and redefining the boundaries of what was once thought possible.

On September 12, 1992, Jemison embarked on a groundbreaking mission aboard the Endeavour, STS-47, cementing her legacy in the annals of space exploration. Her efforts have since been celebrated with numerous awards and honorary doctorates, recognising her pioneering contributions and inspiring others –especially people of colour– to pursue careers in STEM and space.

While the achievements of female astronauts are rightly celebrated for their contributions to space exploration, becoming an astronaut isn't the only aspiration within the field. Many women contribute significantly behind the scenes – working in a wide range of roles that are essential to the success of the space industry, including future missions.

Nancy Grace Roman is a prime example. She was instrumental in the creation of the Hubble Space Telescope and is famously referred to as the "Mother of Hubble,". The ambitious concept of a space-based telescope became a reality thanks to her visionary leadership and unwavering support for space-based astronomy. By giving humanity previously unheard-of vistas of far-off galaxies, nebulae, and other celestial phenomena, Roman's discoveries have completely transformed our understanding of the cosmos.

The triumphs of these women not only broke gender and racial barriers but also established important milestones in the history of space travel, providing a strong foundation for future generations of women entering the industry.

Despite the remarkable progress made over the years, gender imbalance remains a persistent issue in the sector. In fact, men continue to make up the majority of the global space workforce – a trend that has seen only slight improvements over the past three decades.

'I was a third grader when I believed women could be astronauts'

Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger

From classroom to cosmos, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger’s path to space is a testament to the power of perseverance and passion. A former science teacher, she launched into orbit in April 2010 as part of NASA's STS-131 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in April 2010, spending over 15 days in space.

The mission made headlines for setting a new record – the most women in space at one time. Yet Metcalf-Lindenburger’s impact extends far beyond that historic flight, as she continues to inspire future generations through her dedication to science education and outreach.

Her achievements have been recognised with several awards, including being an inaugural inductee into the Space Camp Hall of Fame in 2007. 

Inspired by her parents' deep involvement in mathematics and science, Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger's journey to becoming an astronaut began in her childhood. Her parents frequently took her and her sister to museums and planetariums, fostering a love for space and science.

A pivotal moment in Metcalf-Lindenburger’s early life came in 1983, when, as a third-grader, she watched Sally Ride become the first American woman in space. “It was a big deal,” she later recalled– an event that planted the seeds of ambition. That same year, the release of The Right Stuff, a film chronicling the early years of America’s space programme, further ignited her fascination with space exploration.

At university, Metcalf-Lindenburger found herself in geology classes where gender balance was the norm – a rarity in many STEM fields at the time. The women in her cohort fostered a spirit of mutual support, creating a collaborative and empowering environment. Though most of her lecturers were male, she recalls being actively encouraged to pursue internships, with additional backing from her family and peers reinforcing her ambitions.

 ‘’Science can be really challenging and that's why I love it. But you sometimes need to remember why you're doing it and that you can do it.’’ She said.

When Metcalf-Lindenburger began her career at NASA, she noticed lingering traces of an earlier era – one where men had long dominated the space sector.

“I wouldn’t say anyone at the time was working against women,” Metcalf-Lindenburger reflected. “And I don’t even think it was intentional when it was done – it’s just a relic of the past.”

As a working mother during her time at NASA, Metcalf-Lindenburger spoke candidly about the quiet but vital support she received from other women in the field. Many would discreetly pull her aside to offer practical advice – from where to find private spaces to breastfeed or pump, to how to navigate the demands of motherhood alongside a high-pressure career.

''Every year we see the hiring of women in proportion to what we represent in society, it's getting closer and closer to 50%''

Metcalf-Lindenburger is optimistic about the increasing recognition of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within the industry. She emphasised the importance of having a team with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds to achieve better outcomes within space exploration.

During her STS-131 mission to the International Space Station, Metcalf-Lindenburger reflected on the everyday routines shared by the crew. “Our daily routines weren’t all that different between men and women,” she said. “Men might shave in the morning, while women would spend time fixing their hair. I had longer hair at the time, so I’d get that sorted. We all wanted coffee and needed to use the bathroom – though how we did that was a bit different.”

She emphasised the value of having a mixed-gender crew, noting it was essential for “developing new equipment” and improving “day-to-day” operations.

While the US side of the station had made efforts to accommodate female astronauts, she noted that the US side of the station made efforts to accommodate female astronauts, the shared toilet – designed in collaboration with the Russian space agency – was more tailored to men. “There was definitely room for improvement,” she added, “but they did take our feedback seriously.”

Metcalf-Lindenburger, a strong advocate for gender equality in space, said the landscape has shifted significantly since her own school days. “Little girls now in school at the age I was are surrounded by the idea that becoming an astronaut is one of many possibilities for their future,” she said. “The same applies to boys. It’s crucial for all children to see themselves in these roles – and that excites me.”

For Rishika Porandla, growing up in the shadow of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Texas wasn’t just inspiring – it was life-changing, fuelling a passion for space science that would chart the course of her future.

''Coincidentally I was always kind of adjacent or peripheral to a NASA centre, and there's more than 10 NASA centres in the United States,'' said Porandla.

Enthralled by the mysteries of the cosmos, she chose to study physics during her school years — a decision that soon led her to apply for an internship at NASA.

“When you're a kid and you say, ‘I want to be an astronaut when I grow up,’ most people grow out of that statement”

At the time, Porandla said she felt “sheltered” from the gender inequalities that exist in astrophysics.

“When you're in high school, you don't really attend international conferences or enter academic sectors where some of those inequities become apparent to you,” she explained.

She added: “The internships I applied for were usually predominantly female due to the criteria and a desire for inclusion, which can motivate girls and minority groups to pursue those opportunities.”

It wasn’t until she attended one of the world’s largest Earth and space science conferences that the gender imbalance became clear.

Reflecting on the event, she said: “I remember looking at the programme sheet and the list of keynote speakers whose research was profiled and used to advertise the entire conference – and they were all white males.

“That was my first inkling that people aren’t as represented as they were in the little bubble I was in.”

According to the latest figures from Data USA, the field of astronomy and physics remains overwhelmingly white, with white individuals making up 76.6 per cent of the workforce. Within that group, only 15.4 per cent are women. Asians represent 12.6 per cent of the total, while those identifying as two or more races account for 5.9 per cent.

Although she describes her university experience as largely positive, Porandla said the lack of diversity is most noticeable in certain classes, where she’s often one of only a few women.

“My university really values inclusion, but in one of my astrophysics classes, you can count the number of girls on one hand – it’s something you notice straight away,” she said

She recalled a “very reputable” female lecturer commenting on the gender imbalance in her year group, saying she had “hoped for more” women.

Looking ahead, Porandla hopes to continue leading pioneering scientific research – whether as a university lecturer or a programme scientist. Her ambition is rooted in collaboration and impact.

“There’s something incredible about building something for a team of such talented people – your deputy science engineer, your specialist – and knowing you’re leading as the principal investigator. That’s the dream,” she said.

'We're going to have to push the door down –not wait for them to open it'

Alicia Robinson

As a student, Alicia Robinson had her sights set on a career in criminal defence law, juggling studies with part-time work to make ends meet. But what began as a pursuit of justice in the courtroom took an unexpected turn –one that would lead her to a distinguished 25-year career at NASA. The question is: how does an aspiring lawyer end up shaping astronaut training at one of the world’s leading space agencies?

“I applied to be an administrative assistant in one of the departments at NASA’s Johnson Space Center,” Robinson recalled. “While I was just trying to get through college, I ended up working in the training office.”

Her route into the space sector was anything but typical. “My journey into the space industry is very unconventional,” she said. “I never dreamt that this would be something I would do at all.”

In her role as an administrative assistant, Robinson often found herself observing the training of NASA flight controllers, astronauts, and mission managers for both shuttle and space station operations.

“I would attend meetings with these individuals and think, well, that seems like an interesting career,” she said, reflecting on those early experiences.

At the time, she was still pursuing her ambition of attending law school. But then, an unexpected opportunity presented itself – one that would ultimately steer her in an entirely new direction.

“My boss at the time said, ‘I know you want to go to law school, but we need someone to cover this mission. You have the skillset – you're detail-oriented and have a logistical mindset, which is essential for a training manager.’”

She agreed, thinking it would be a temporary role and a chance to save more money for her legal studies. “To my surprise, I ended up really enjoying the job and found it incredibly fulfilling,” she said.

As NASA’s Astronaut Training Manager, Robinson was tasked with assigning astronauts to missions and coordinating their training schedules. Each mission came with its own set of requirements, and it was her responsibility to ensure that every crew member received the necessary instruction—often across multiple international locations.

“We would send the crew members to Russia, to Japan, to Germany, to Canada – all these places to train,” she explained. “The training manager was responsible for making sure that all of the training objectives were met, so that at the end of the training flow, you could confirm that the astronaut crew was ready to fly.”

Even though all of her fellow International Training Managers at NASA were women, Alicia Robinson couldn’t help but notice a different imbalance – racial inequality.

“There were only five International Training Managers in my office, and all of them were women,” Robinson said. “I didn’t see anyone that looked like me doing the job I did at NASA.”

While gender representation had made some strides, Robinson pointed out that African Americans remained significantly underrepresented in aerospace and STEM careers. “There are barriers – like unequal access to education, mentorship and funding – that continue to hold people back,” she said.

To address these challenges, NASA has signed a Space Act Agreement with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) aimed at improving access to STEM opportunities for underrepresented students. The partnership seeks to boost engagement and equity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, as well as increase participation in NASA programmes.

“NASA and the NAACP share a longstanding commitment to attracting more diverse students to STEM education and ultimately careers,” said Shahra Lambert, senior advisor for engagement and equity at NASA Headquarters, in a statement published on the agency’s website.

Other organisations such as the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) are working to address these challenges by offering scholarships, mentorship and networking opportunities.

Robinson believes that visibility plays a crucial role in inspiring the next generation. “When young people see someone who looks like them in a role they never imagined possible, it changes what they believe they can achieve,” she said.

Through school visits, mentoring schemes and public speaking engagements, she has seen first-hand the impact of representation. “It’s not just about encouraging them to dream big – it’s about showing them that those dreams are within reach.”

'Every human in this universe, has the right to dare to dream'

Alaa Salah Afifi

The spark that ignited Alaa Salah Afifi’s journey into the cosmos began not in a lab, but in her childhood living room in Egypt. She remembers watching her father, a physics teacher, conduct a simple solar power experiment. To her, it wasn’t just science – it was magic.

“He was like a musician turning dust into light,” she recalled. “I was so curious. I asked him, ‘Why science? Why physics?’ His answer stayed with me forever: ‘Physics is all around us. Inside us and about us. It is light, air, water, and sound. The greatest force that turns on the bulb is the attraction between the negative and the positive.’ That was the moment I knew – I wanted to uncover the mysteries of space.”

Today, Salah Afifi is a STEM teacher in Egypt, a researcher at Astro Tech Hub, and a mentor with Women in Aerospace Europe. Her work spans astrophysics, black hole analysis, and sustainable technologies. But like many women in STEM, her path has been one of persistence – constantly proving herself in a field where women remain underrepresented.

According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index 2020 – a comparative measure of gender parity across 153 nations – Egypt ranked 134th, having closed just 62.9 per cent of its overall gender gap. The index found disparities between women and men across social, political, economic, and cultural dimensions.

Despite these challenges, women in Egypt are achieving near parity with men in STEM education. A 2021 study by the British Council revealed that women and men graduate in almost equal numbers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics degrees. However, this progress in education has not translated into the workplace. Far fewer women go on to pursue careers in these fields, pointing to persistent structural and societal barriers that hinder their professional advancement.

Salah Afifi reflected on her own experiences:“People questioned my abilities simply because of my gender.

“Another challenge was being from Egypt – I had to actively seek international collaborations and work harder to connect with experts around the world. But those challenges only strengthened my determination to succeed.”

"My dream is to leave a lasting impact, inspiring other women to follow their dreams"

Salah Afifi has witnessed instances where women’s technical contributions were overlooked, even when they were more substantial than those of their male counterparts. Still, she believes progress is being made. “Today, women can achieve more by asserting themselves and letting their work speak for itself,” she said.

Now a mentor for young women in STEM, Salah Afifi helps others navigate the barriers she once faced. She’s optimistic about the future of women in the space industry, noting that generational shifts are opening new doors.

“In the past, women were typically seen in roles like teachers or doctors. Becoming an astronaut felt like a distant dream,” she explained. “Today, that dream is becoming a reality, with many women now serving as astronauts.”

'If I only inspired one girl to go out and achieve something daring, then I feel like I've done my part'

Susan Kilrain

In 1997, Susan Kilrain became one of only three women to pilot a NASA space shuttle, marking a milestone in the history of American spaceflight. Her first mission, STS-83, was cut short due to a critical systems failure. Undeterred, she returned to space just three months later on STS-94, spending sixteen days conducting scientific research in orbit.

A graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, Kilrain brought with her more than 3,000 flight hours across over 30 aircraft types – credentials that placed her among the most experienced pilots in the astronaut corps.

When Kilrain first saw Earth from space, she was struck not by its vastness, but by its vulnerability.

“I was struck by how fragile our planet looked,” she said. “You can’t look out at the horizon and see how thin the atmosphere is – and that atmosphere is all that’s keeping humanity alive – without appreciating just how delicate it is.”

She described the moment as a powerful realisation, one that has stayed with her ever since. “We need to do everything we can – and by ‘we,’ I mean every person on the planet – to protect that atmosphere,” she said.

Kilrain grew up in an era when female astronauts were virtually nonexistent. “There weren’t any women astronauts, and girls were told they couldn’t pursue such careers,” she recalled. Encouraged by her father’s belief that she could achieve anything, it wasn’t until university that she became fully aware of the gender-based limitations still in place.

While her path into NASA was relatively smooth, Kilrain said the real challenge lay in entering the military – a critical step toward becoming an astronaut. Determined not to let gender define her trajectory, she remained focused on her goal.

“Some might call it stubbornness,” she said. “But I always saw a way forward. Even when the path wasn’t clear, if the door was even slightly open, I kept pushing.”

When she arrived at NASA, Kilrain was pleasantly surprised. Despite her expectations, gender was rarely a factor in how she was treated.

''NASA was a breath of fresh air and was completely open to women by the time I got there''

“The only ones who highlighted the fact that I was a woman were the media – NASA never did,” she said. “So, interviews aside, I just felt like one of the other young pilots flying the first flight.”

Within the agency, she found a culture focused on performance and professionalism. She reflected: “At NASA, it was about capability. I was treated like any other pilot.”

Susan Kilrain has observed progress for women in aerospace over the course of her career, but notes that recent policy changes in the United States may be affecting those efforts.

In early 2025, an executive order signed by President Donald Trump directed federal agencies to roll back Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) programmes. NASA, among others, has begun phasing out such initiatives, prompting debate over the long-term impact on representation in science and engineering fields.

“We’re experiencing a bit of a setback,” Kilrain said. “I have mixed feelings about it.”

With her daughter currently in Navy flight training, Kilrain had hoped the environment would be different for the next generation. “I was hoping she wouldn’t have to deal with the same rhetoric I did,” she added. “But it feels like we’ve taken a step backwards.”

Kilrain has stressed the ongoing need to encourage girls to pursue careers in STEM and the space sector.

“We need to support them through secondary school,” she said, “because at some point, it becomes ‘uncool’ for girls to be smart.”

Kilrain also highlighted the subtle but persistent gender biases that continue to affect women in technical fields. “You still find women being assigned tasks that are more secretarial in nature, rather than engineering roles, and that can be very discouraging,” she added.

In addition to her work as a speaker, Kilrain has authored a children’s book, An Unlikely Astronaut, inspired by her own journey. The book aims to spark curiosity and ambition in young readers, encouraging them to dream big –especially those who may not see themselves represented in the world of space exploration.

While acknowledging that the path to space can be daunting – particularly for women– Kilrain emphasised the importance of perseverance. “The odds are often stacked against us,” she admitted, “but it’s vital not to give up.”