Women Spacefarers Sixty Different Paths to Space Umberto Cavallaro Women Spacefarers Sixty Different Paths to Space Umberto Cavallaro Italian Astrophilately Society, AS.IT.AF Villarbasse, Torino Italy SPRINGER-PRAXIS BOOKS IN SPACE EXPLORATION Original Edition: Donne nello spazio. © Ugo Mursia Editore S.r.l. - Milan 2015 Springer Praxis Books ISBN 978-3-319-34047-0 ISBN 978-3-319-34048-7 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-34048-7 Library of Congress Control Number: 2016955846 © Springer International Publishing AG 2017 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. 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Cover design: Jim Wilkie Printed on acid-free paper This Springer imprint is published by Springer Nature The registered company is Springer International Publishing AG The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland To Lorenzo and Martina Aim high and chase your dreams! Acronyms ASI Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (Italian Space Agency) ASP Astronaut Support Personnel (see Cape Crusader) CAIB Columbia Accident Investigation Board CCCP Coвeтcкaя кocмичecкaя пpoгpaммa (Soviet space program) CNES Centre National d’Études Spatiales (French Space Agency) CNSA China National Space Administration CSA Canadian Space Agency DLR Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (German Aerospace Center) EMU Extravehicular Mobility Unit, i.e., a spacesuit ESA European Space Agency EVA Extravehicular Activity ISS International Space Station JAXA Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency JSC NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas KARI Korean Aerospace Research Institute KSC NASA Kennedy Space Center, Florida MCC Mission Control Center NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration ROSCOSMOS Фeдepaльнoe кocмичecкoe aгeнтcтвo (Russian Federal Space Agency) SAS Space Adaptation Syndrome or Space Sickness STS Shuttle Transport System or Space Shuttle TRDS Tracking and Data Relay Satellite UNOOSA United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs USAF United States Air Force vi Contents Foreword..................................................................................................................... xii Preface......................................................................................................................... xv 1 Valentina Tereshkova: The Icon of Soviet Female Emancipation.................. 1 References............................................................................................................. 7 2 Svetlana Savitskaya: Twice in Space—The Second Soviet First..................... 9 References............................................................................................................. 16 3 Sally Ride: America’s Pioneering Woman in Space........................................ 17 References............................................................................................................. 24 4 Judith Resnik: The Second “Shuttlenaut”........................................................ 26 References............................................................................................................. 33 5 Christa McAuliffe: “NASA Teacher in Space”................................................. 34 References............................................................................................................. 39 6 Kathryn D. Sullivan: The First American Spacewalker................................. 41 References............................................................................................................. 46 7 Anna Lee Fisher: The First Mother in Space................................................... 48 References............................................................................................................. 53 8 Margaret Rhea Seddon: The First Wedding Among NASA Astronauts....... 54 References............................................................................................................. 62 9 Shannon Lucid: The First American Woman to Participate in a Long-Duration Mission............................................................................... 63 References............................................................................................................. 72 10 Bonnie J. Dunbar: The First Female Astrocosmonaut in History.................. 73 References............................................................................................................. 81 vii viii Contents 11 Mary L. Cleave: Flying at Age 14...................................................................... 83 References............................................................................................................. 88 12 Ellen Baker: An Internist Physician on the Shuttle......................................... 89 References............................................................................................................. 92 13 Kathryn Thornton: The “Space Walker Mom”............................................... 94 References............................................................................................................. 99 14 Marsha Ivins: Aspiring Astronaut at 19........................................................... 100 References............................................................................................................. 105 15 Linda M. Godwin: Physics and Astronomy...................................................... 107 References............................................................................................................. 112 16 Helen Sharman: The First Briton in Space...................................................... 113 References............................................................................................................. 119 17 Tamara Jernigan: An Astrophysicist Out Among the Stars........................... 120 References............................................................................................................. 124 18 Millie Hughes-Fulford: The First Female Payload Specialist......................... 126 References............................................................................................................. 130 19 Roberta Bondar: The Pioneer of Space-Medicine Research........................... 131 References............................................................................................................. 135 20 Nancy Jan Davis: Growing Up with the Saturn Rockets................................. 137 References............................................................................................................. 141 21 Mae Jemison: Our Limits Are the Stars........................................................... 142 References............................................................................................................. 147 22 Susan J. Helms: Three-Star General................................................................. 148 References............................................................................................................. 153 23 Ellen Ochoa: “Reach for the Stars and Let Nothing Limit Your Potential!”................................................................................................... 155 References............................................................................................................. 161 24 Janice Voss: Visits the International Space Station as a Cygnus Craft.......... 162 References............................................................................................................. 166 25 Nancy Currie-Gregg: A Passion for Flying and Concern for Safety.............. 168 References............................................................................................................. 173 26 Chiaki Mukai: The First Japanese Astronaut.................................................. 174 References............................................................................................................. 179 27 Elena Kondakova: The First Woman to Take Part in a Long-Duration Space Mission...................................................................................................... 180 References............................................................................................................. 184 Contents ix 28 Eileen Collins: The First Woman