Aisha Bowe, a rocket scientist who worked for NASA, announced that she will be the first Black woman to go to space with Blue Origin, a private spaceflight company that was started by Jeff Bezos. Aero-News Network says that Bowe is expected to become the sixth Black woman to cross the Kármán line, which separates Earth’s atmosphere from space.
According to Bowe, “Today’s historic announcement about my flight is both surreal and emotional.”
I’m thrilled, excited, and aware that this experience will forever alter my life.
I’m going to space!
As the first Black woman confirmed to fly with @BlueOrigin on #NewShepard, I am expected to be the sixth Black woman to cross the Kármán line – the internationally recognized boundary of space! pic.twitter.com/fYml4TLrPP
— Aisha Bowe (@arbowe) October 27, 2022
Her flight comes 30 years after NASA astronaut Mae Jemison became the first Black woman to go into space in 1992. She was followed by Stephanie Wilson, Joan Higginbotham, Jessica Watkins, and Dr. Sian Proctor of the SpaceX Inspiration4 Mission, all of whom were Black women who worked for NASA. Bowe will board New Shepard, a reusable suborbital rocket system named after Alan Shepard, the first American astronaut to go into space, according to a statement on her website.
According to Aero-News, Bowe studied mathematics at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Michigan, before attending the University of Michigan to earn her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering. Bowe stated that she dedicated her life to helping people break stereotypes. She’s honored to follow in these pioneers’ footsteps as they begin to realize the potential of public space access.
Bowe is the founder and CEO of STEMBoard, a technology company, in addition to her background as a rocket scientist. She was a global speaker for the U.S. State Department and raised $2 million in venture capital to fund LINGO, a self-paced coding kit for students. Bowe is also a member of the Aerospace Department Industry Advisory Board at her university.
