First woman in space: Valentina Tereshkova - Vostok 6. June 16, 1963
First woman Space Shuttle commander: Eileen Collins - STS-93. July 23-27, 1999.
First woman Space Station Expedition crew member: Susan Helms - Expedition 2. March 2001 - August 2001
First woman to command the International Space Station (ISS): Peggy Whitson - Whitson completed a six month tour of duty aboard the International Space Station as the ISS Commander for Expedition 16 in April 2008.
My first and last expedition to space was in 1992. As a physician and astronaut, I conducted experiments on weightlessness and motion sickness on the crew and myself.
Learn more about women in space on NASA’s website.
Mae Carol Jemison:
The first six female NASA astronauts pose for a group photo after their selection in 1978:
