More than 50 years have passed since humanity first orbited the Moon, and more than 60 since the first manned space flight. In that time, everything has changed: technology, infrastructure and our way of thinking about space.
We launched hundreds of rockets, built the International Space Station (which is still orbiting today) and turned space into a living laboratory, inhabited for months by people who dedicated their lives to research.
But not only did technology change, we changed too. Our role has evolved: we no longer occupy only administrative or calculation spaces, but now we make decisions, lead teams and play critical roles in space missions. Today we are also the ones orbiting the Moon, which, although it sometimes seems far away, is closer than we think.
How about orbiting, then, around the women who are part of a mission as important as Artemis II, marking humanity's return to the Moon?
Since 2022, the Artemis program has ceased to be a promise and has become a reality. Throughout different stages, it seeks to establish a sustained human presence on our natural satellite. Artemis I proved that the mission architecture was viable. But it was Artemis II, launched in March 2026, that once again captured the world's attention: for the first time in this program, a crew traveled aboard the Orion capsule to orbit the Moon and return safely, evoking the historic flights of the Apollo program.
However, this mission was not only notable for its technological advances, its images or its impact on a new generation. It also marked a before and after in terms of representation. For the first time, a person of African descent and a woman were part of a crew that orbited the Moon. A social milestone that broadens who can be reflected in space exploration.
Christina Koch was one of the astronauts and mission specialists on this trip, representing millions of women around the world. But behind her are hundreds who make every step of these missions possible. Women like Kathy Lueders, who led much of the program architecture; Lisa Watson-Morgan, responsible for the human lunar landing system; and Vanessa Wyche, director of the center where astronauts are trained and operations are managed, are also part of this journey.
And, closer to us, Argentine professional women and students who participated in the development of the national satellite Atenea, which accompanied Artemis II, demonstrating that Argentina and Latin America also have an active role in this new stage of space exploration. Of the four satellites sent by different countries (including Germany and South Korea), the Argentine satellite was one of those that worked correctly, together with the one from Saudi Arabia.
Millions of people around the world followed the mission through live transmissions and first-person experiences. In this context, the dissemination by professionals with diverse views becomes key to accompany this historic moment. “Today we are witnessing the beginning of a new stage, and that is what excites me the most: to be able to see it happen, understand it and tell about it, because this kind of moments also need new voices to accompany them”, said Melina Blanco, astronomical guide and member of the Orbitar Argentina project.
Space exploration is no longer just a story of technological advances, but also of who has the opportunity to be a part of it. And every time a woman joins, it paves the way for many more. Perhaps the next mission will not only bring us closer to the Moon, but also to new generations who dare to imagine themselves there.
He wrote: Delfina Moschela of the CET Community
Edition: Girls in Technology
