Today I am celebrating women in space. Sixty women have flown in space from countries all over the world. I am only listing 13. How many of these names do you recognize? Why do you suppose that is?
1. Valentina Tereshkova (1937 - ) was the Soviet Union's first woman in space. Actually, she was the world's first woman in space. Her flight took place on June 16, 1963. She is also the youngest woman in space (she was 26), and the only woman to make a solo spaceflight.
2. Svetlana Savitskaya (1948 - ) was the first Soviet Union woman to fly on a space station (Salyut 7, 1982). She was also the first woman to perform a spacewalk (July 25, 1984) and the first woman to make two spaceflights (Soyuz T-5 (July 19, 1982) and Soyuz T-12 (Jul. 17, 1984))
3. Sally Ride (1951-2012) was the first woman from the United States to go into space. She was on STS-7 (June 18, 1983) and STS-41-G (October 5, 1984).
4. Judith A. Resnik (1949 - 1986) was the first Jewish American woman in space. She was killed in the Challenger disaster on January 28, 1986, which was her second space expedition. Her first was STS-41-D (Aug. 30, 1984).
5. Kathryn D. Sullivan (1951 - ) was the first United States female to perform a space walk ((Oct. 11, 1984). She flew in missions STS-41-G (Oct. 5, 1984), STS-31 (Apr. 24, 1990), and STS-45 (Mar. 24, 1992).
6. Anna Lee Fisher (1949 - ) was the United States' first mother in space. She flew on STS-51-A (Nov. 8, 1984).
7. Margaret Rhea Seddon (1947 - ) flew in three United States space missions: STS-51-D (Apr. 12, 1985), STS-40 (Jun. 5, 1991), and STS-58 (Oct. 18, 1993).
8. Shannon Lucid (1943 - ) was the first United States woman to fly on a space station ((Mir, 1996). She was also the first Chinese-born woman in space and the first woman to make a third, a fourth and a fifth spaceflight. Her missions were STS-51-G (Jun. 17, 1985), STS-34 (Oct. 18, 1989), STS-43 (Aug. 2, 1991), STS-58 (Oct. 18, 1993), STS-76/79 (Mar. 22, 1996).
9. Bonnie J. Dunbar (1949) flew five missions for the United States. Her missions were STS-61-A (Oct. 30, 1985), STS-32 (January 9, 1990), STS-50 (Jun. 25, 1992), STS-71 (Jun. 27, 1995), and STS-89 (Jan. 22, 1998).
10. Mary L. Cleave (1947 - ) of the United States flew two missions in space (STS-61-B (Nov. 26, 1985) and STS-30 (May 4, 1989)).
11. Ellen S. Baker (1953 - ) of the United States flew three missions in space (STS-34 (Oct. 18, 1989), STS-50 (Jun. 25, 1992), and STS-71 (Jun. 27, 1995)).
12. Kathryn C. Thornton (1952 - ) of the United States was the third woman to walk in space. She was also the first woman to make multiple spacewalks ((May 14–15, 1992, Dec. 6, 1993, Dec. 8, 1993). Her missions were STS-33 (Nov. 22, 1989), STS-49 (May 7, 1992), STS-61 (Dec. 2, 1993), and STS-73 (Oct. 20, 1995).
13. Marsha Ivins (1951 - ) of the United States flew five missions: STS-32 (Jan. 9, 1990), STS-46 (Jul. 31, 1992), STS-62 (Mar. 4, 1994), STS-81 (Jan. 12, 1997), and
STS-98 (Feb. 7, 2001).
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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 537th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.
I only know of Sally Ride. I think she was touted as the "first" woman in space, and her name was "ride." Why do you think Russia sent a baby in space?
ReplyDeleteSorry. It was age 26. Thanks for the catch.
Delete#1 & #3. That was it for ne. Speaks volumes, alright.
ReplyDelete(Not that I could name that many males, but I can easily name at least twice as many...)
The Challenger disasters were two "civilian" shots and had a mutual cause. Both before and after that, it was mostly all military. Mostly men. Sad, isn't it? I remember Sally Ride, and there is a research vessel stationed here that's named for her. I have a photo of it, I think.. It's berthed at Shelter Island.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this lesson in our space history. The Challenger disaster in 1986 what about Christa McAuliffe?
ReplyDeleteShe was the first teacher in space.
Although I'm an SF fan, I couldn't tell you he names of most male astronauts either.
ReplyDelete