More Female Astronauts Are Required For The Success Of Space Exploration

Gender inequality, in terms of ratio of male workers to female workers, seems to be prevalent in space too. In a report by NASA, the data says women astronauts have made up for only 10 percent of the 500 plus travelers to space until now.

In addition, none of the women astronauts have taken a flight farther than the low Earth orbit, an area of space that is located between 179 and 1999 kilometers from the atmosphere of our planet. In comparison, 24 male astronauts have been sent 384,400 kilometers to the moon by their governments. At present, NASA's astronaut ratio is 50:50; however the situation does not hold true for space agencies around the world, especially in Europe. In the past 38 years, Germany has sent 11 male astronauts into space and zero women. The 14 member team of the European Astronaut Corps has only one woman.

According to the CEO of German space engineering recruitment company, HE Space Operations, there might be a reason for such a status in the country. "One reason, especially for German women, is that women only apply for a job if they are really 100% sure that they fit all the criteria," said CEO HE Space Operations Claudia Kessler to Quartz. "They're very risk adverse with regards to applying for something where men would say, 'Well, I'll just go for it even if I only have 50 percent of the criteria'. Women really want to be 150 percent sure before they apply". Kessler also feels that women add more dynamic value to the teams that explore space, because they have a better influence on the mood of the team and are more harmonizing, integrative and communicative.

Additionally, as per the Process Communications Model (PCM)there are also chances of women astronauts being imaginers and rebels that underline a warm, compassionate and creative personality. The model was formulated to predict astronaut behavior and analyze potential for conflict within the team, and has been used for 20 years as a communications and personality theory by NASA psychiatrist Terence McGuire.

A behavior study conducted at the Mars Desert Research Station had found that the female participants in a Mars simulation mission were more likely to be conscientious and agreeable as well as diligently meet mission deadlines. The study also found the women to be easier to work with than their male counterparts. The researchers also observed that a mix of both genders led to optimal duration performance.

On her part, Kessler recently launched the Die Astronautin or 'The Female Astronaut": HE Space's private search for Germany's first female astronaut project. Sending one more woman astronaut may not be the solution for gender imbalance, however it will provide more female role models and that is an important step according to Kessler. The program will also serve as a base to gain more insight into what happens to women's bodies in zero gravity, which is an important study considering that space agencies are passionately working on missions to Mars.

According to a previous study by NASA, women astronauts have higher chances of experiencing immediate post flight orthostatic intolerance (not being able to stand without fainting) and space motion sickness. However, in comparison to their male counterparts, the women aboard have lower chances of experiencing other ailments that the men face frequently, such as long term visual impairment, hearing problems, and motion sickness related to the return journey to Earth. However, at the moment it remains to be seen whether the positive implications will mean more women making the journey to space in the near future.