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An upcoming spacewalk at the International Space Station will feature two female astronauts for the very first time. NASA had not planned this as an "all-female spacewalk", but things are moving a bit, and as its ranks are getting closer to an equal sharing between male and female astronauts, some wonder how this could affect future trips to the moon and possibly Mars.
When NASA's Apollo missions sent humanity to the moon, things were very different for NASA women and, in simple terms, the agency was mostly male. Today, women represent 34% of NASA's active astronauts. Although this figure is still well below half, it is much closer than in the past.
So, is it time for a woman to walk on the moon? NASA's director, Jim Bridenstine, thinks so.
In an interview with Science FridayBridenstine mentions the high probability that female astronauts will play an important role in future missions on the Moon and, in the future, on Mars. He goes so far as to say that the next person to walk on the moon will be "probably a woman".
"It's also true that the first person on Mars will probably be a woman," said Bridenstine. "So, these are beautiful days. The first release in the women's space takes place at the end of March, on the occasion of National Women's Month. NASA is therefore committed to ensuring we have a wide range of talent. And we are looking forward to the first woman on the moon. "
Bridenstine did not give much detail to support her idea that women would lead the charge on the moon and on Mars, and that's not really surprising. NASA would not have chosen crew members for missions that are not yet scheduled, and the return to the moon and a possible mission on Mars are still in the development stage.
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