Espace : une mission 100% féminine et un sacré coup de pub - RTBF Info

Summary

For the first time in history, an all-female crew, including pop star Katy Perry, ventured into space on a mission sponsored by Jeff Bezos' space company, Blue Origin. This space tourism operation highlights the ongoing underrepresentation of women in space, as they make up just 11% of astronauts. The historical journey follows Valentina Tereshkova's pioneering flight in 1963 and highlights the challenges women faced in the male-dominated field. Over time, women have proven to be resilient and better suited for space travel, but it took decades for space agencies to include more women in their programs.

Takeaways

• 😀 The first all-female crew has made a historic trip into space, marking a significant moment in space exploration.
• 😀 Among the crew was pop singer Katy Perry, who participated in a space tourism mission sponsored by Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin.
• 😀 The mission lasted only a few seconds in zero gravity, but it was a monumental event for gender representation in space exploration.
• 😀 Women currently make up only 11% of all astronauts who have experienced weightlessness in space.
• 😀 In the 1960s, studies suggested women were ideal candidates for spaceflight due to their smaller size and lower consumption of resources like oxygen and food.
• 😀 Despite these advantages, women were historically excluded from space missions due to social and cultural perceptions.
• 😀 Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space in 1963, but her mission faced significant challenges, leading to a delay in subsequent female astronaut missions.
• 😀 After Tereshkova’s mission, the Soviet Union did not send another woman to space until 1983, following a long gap.
• 😀 The United States also followed with its first female astronaut, Sally Ride, who flew into space in 1983.
• 😀 Today, space agencies are increasingly focusing on gender diversity in astronaut selections, though mixed-gender crews are still rare.

Q & A

What is historically significant about this event?

This event is historically significant because, for the first time in history, an all-female crew made a space incursion, marking a milestone in space exploration.

Who was among the crew of this historic mission?

Among the crew was pop singer Katy Perry, along with five other women, participating in a space tourism mission.

What company was responsible for this space tourism mission?

The space tourism mission was made possible by Blue Origin, a company founded by American billionaire Jeff Bezos.

What is the main goal of Jeff Bezos with this mission?

Jeff Bezos aims to revolutionize space tourism and promote the idea of space travel as an accessible activity for the public, using this all-female crew as a publicity stunt.

How long did the crew spend in space during this mission?

The crew spent only a few seconds in weightlessness during their brief space journey.

What percentage of astronauts have been women historically?

Women remain a minority in space exploration, representing only about 11% of astronauts who have experienced weightlessness.

What was the significance of Valentina Tereshkova's flight in 1963?

Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space in 1963, during the Cold War, when the Soviets aimed to outpace the United States in the space race.

Why was Valentina Tereshkova's flight problematic?

Her flight was problematic because she became severely ill during the mission, which affected her ability to complete the planned tasks. This led to a long delay before another woman flew into space.

Who was the second woman in space, and when did she fly?

The second woman in space was Svetlana Savitskaya, a Soviet cosmonaut, who flew into space in 1983.

How have space agencies evolved in terms of crew selection over time?

Space agencies have progressively moved towards gender equality in their astronaut selections, though not all space missions or crews fully reflect this shift.