Study: Women May Be Better Suited for Spaceflight
Study: Women May Be Better Suited for Spaceflight
The Facts
New research analyzing the first all-civilian crew from SpaceX's three-day Inspiration4 mission has found that women may be better suited physiologically than men to endure the effects of flying to outer space.
New research published in Nature Communications, which analyzed the first all-civilian crew from SpaceX's three-day Inspiration4 mission, has found that women may be better suited physiologically than men to endure the effects of flying to outer space.
The Spin
Although the historically sexist NASA space agency has scrubbed much of this data from the public datarecord, women have proven equal to men on spaceflight physical exams for decades. Beyond the physiological data coming out now, it's also clear that women's smaller bodies will mean a lighter rocket, which requires less fuel. Women should have at least equal access to future space missions, if not more so, than men.
Whether you're a man or a woman, becoming an astronaut is a grueling process that many people naively think they could achieve. In virtually every case, this includes obtaining advanced college degrees, passing military physical fitness exams, becoming a military pilot, and racking up 1K flight hours. Any additional qualification theories can be discussed once those entry levels are passed.