about us
Executive team
KIM MACHARIA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
“I am passionate about this project because empowering young women is essential to addressing the stark gender disparities that plague the space industry.”
DR. MARK WAGNER
PRESIDENT
“I am passionate about preparing today's students to participate in the growing space economy and in humanity's rapidly approaching multiplanet future.”
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
-
Roman Chiporukha
-
Eddie Miller
-
Susanne Moore
“We are passionate about this project because it is imperative that everyone understands the role that space plays in preserving and improving life on Earth.”
BENEFACTOR
Karoline starostik
“I am passionate about this project because when a young woman has support, encouragement and the opportunity to realize her dreams, she can reach for the stars and beyond.”
meet the judges and mentors
WHY WOMEN
Despite sixty years of space exploration, gender inequality has historically kept women from being equally represented in the space industry.
Of the 600+ people who have traveled to space, less than 12% were women.
Only 24% of aerospace employees are women.
Only about 20% of senior roles in the space industry were held by women in 2020.
At NASA, women make up only about 1/3 of the workforce, 28% percent of senior leadership positions, and 16% of scientific employees.
Together we can change these statistics and make gender equity in space a reality for the next generation.
Many women have influenced the space industry in the past sixty years.
Katherine Johnson
NASA Mathematician
Naoko Yamazaki
Astronaut & Engineer
Peggy Whitson
Astronaut & Biochem Researcher
Jessica Meir
Astronaut & Marine Biologist
Pamela Melroy
NASA Deputy Administrator
Diana Trujillo
Flight Director, Mars 2020 Mission
Kalpana Chawla
Astronaut & Engineer
Gwynne Shotwell
President of SpaceX
"Human spaceflight cannot develop any further without the active participation of women."
— cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova
Valentina made history as the first woman in space. In 1963, she piloted the Vostok 6 spacecraft around Earth, alone, orbiting our planet for 48 hours.