“Diversity in space isn’t charity. It’s strategy.” — Lori Garver, Former NASA Deputy Administrator
Did You Know?
In April 2025, an all-women Blue Origin crew took to the skies. The mission included:
- Aisha Bowe – former NASA engineer and the first Bahamian in space
- Amanda Nguyen – Nobel Peace Prize nominee
- Lauren Sánchez and Gayle King – prominent media figures
- Sara Sabry – the first Arab and African woman in space (previous mission)
Photo Credits: Kent Reporter
It was celebrated globally — but also met with backlash. Why? Because visibility and representation still trigger resistance in traditionally male-dominated fields like aerospace.
Who’s Leading the Change in 2025?
Aisha Bowe
- Founder of STEMBoard
- Former NASA engineer
- Blue Origin astronaut
“This is about showing the next generation of girls that they belong in space.”
Sarah Gillis
- SpaceX engineer
- Performed the first commercial spacewalk during Polaris Dawn
- Trained Crew Dragon astronauts for NASA
Sara Sabry
- Biomedical engineer from Egypt
- Became the first Arab and African woman in space in 2022
- Her seat was funded by a nonprofit — raising questions about global access
How Are Women Getting In?
The road to orbit often begins in classrooms and internships. That’s where organizations like these come in:
Brooke Owens Fellowship
- Paid internships with top aerospace companies
- Executive mentorship for undergraduate women
- Alumni now work at NASA, Blue Origin, and even launch their own ventures
WIA-Europe Roundtables
- High-level gatherings focused on leadership, climate, and innovation
- Featured prominently at the 2025 Living Planet Symposium
- Designed to shape policy, not just inspire
These programs are reshaping the talent pipeline — but are they enough?
A Closer Look at the Numbers
| Sector Role | Percentage of Women |
|---|---|
| Aerospace engineering jobs | 17–22% |
| Executive leadership (top firms) | 10–12% |
| Space mission crews (historically) | Less than 15% |
Even where numbers are growing, retention and promotion remain a concern. And when you consider race, class, and geography — the gaps are even wider.
For instance, while Sara Sabry made history, her journey depended on external funding, not structural access. How many other talented women around the world are left behind due to economic barriers?
Are Corporations Doing Enough?
Major firms now publish diversity goals and promote inclusive hiring. Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon have all launched DEI programs. But:
- Women still report bias in performance reviews
- Leadership promotion rates remain low
- There’s limited presence in hard-tech domains like propulsion, manufacturing, and avionics
It’s clear that entry-level efforts aren’t translating into leadership power. Without that, the needle doesn’t truly move.
From Representation to Participation
Representation is about visibility.
Participation is about power, influence, and decision-making.
It’s not enough to see women in spacesuits or in PR campaigns. The real transformation happens when women are:
- Designing spacecraft
- Leading funding rounds for aerospace startups
- Writing international space law
- Commanding missions and owning the tech
What Needs to Change?
To make real progress, the industry must:
- Expand global STEM access, especially in underserved regions
- Ensure long-term mentorship-to-leadership pipelines
- Implement accountability policies in government contracts and private sector projects
- Recognize and address the intersectional challenges women face in aerospace roles
Final Thought
Women in aerospace today are not guests — they are engineers, policy shapers, astronauts, and entrepreneurs.
They’re not just breaking ceilings — they’re building new structures.
This shift isn’t just about diversity metrics. It’s about the future of aerospace itself — a future that must be led by the most qualified minds, regardless of gender, background, or geography.
To discover more stories and analysis like this, visit the homepage of The Aerospace News.
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