Video Feature: The incredible story of the first American women astronauts

Feature by Journalist, Katie Couric.

In this interview, Anna Fisher, former mission specialist astronaut, and Kathryn (Kathy) Sullivan, the first American woman to walk in space, describe what it was like being part of the first NASA class of astronaut candidates that included women in 1978. Fisher and Sullivan talk about when they first knew they wanted to be astronauts, the sexism they faced, what it was like seeing the earth from space for the first time, and for Fisher, what it was like becoming a mother while training to be an astronaut.

As of March 2023, 72 women have flown in space.

Of these, 44 have worked on the International Space Station as long-duration expedition crew members, as visitors on space shuttle assembly flights, or as space flight participants on short-duration missions.