The Space Odyssey of Female Astronauts: From Birth Control to the Stars

The Space Odyssey of Female Astronauts: From Birth Control to the StarsSince 1963 when Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space, more than 70 female astronauts have followed in her footsteps, pursuing their dreams of reaching for the stars. However, a perplexing question has lingered in the minds of many: why do female astronauts need to take "birth control" before venturing into space? What is the purpose of these medications, and how rigorous is the selection process for female astronauts?On October 16, 2021, the Shenzhou-13 spacecraft successfully sent 3 astronauts to the Chinese Space Station, including Wang Yaping, China's first female astronaut on the space station and the first Chinese woman to conduct a spacewalk

The Space Odyssey of Female Astronauts: From Birth Control to the Stars

Since 1963 when Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space, more than 70 female astronauts have followed in her footsteps, pursuing their dreams of reaching for the stars. However, a perplexing question has lingered in the minds of many: why do female astronauts need to take "birth control" before venturing into space? What is the purpose of these medications, and how rigorous is the selection process for female astronauts?

On October 16, 2021, the Shenzhou-13 spacecraft successfully sent 3 astronauts to the Chinese Space Station, including Wang Yaping, China's first female astronaut on the space station and the first Chinese woman to conduct a spacewalk. The selection process for female astronauts is no less demanding than that for their male counterparts. Human spaceflight activities require astronauts to possess exceptional skills and overcome challenges posed by the space environment, including weightlessness, lack of oxygen, isolation, vibrations, and noise. In addition to routine checks, female astronauts must undergo a "gynecological examination" to ensure they are not pregnant, as pregnancy disqualifies them from selection.

When Tereshkova launched into space on June 16, 1963, the world was unsure if women could withstand the rigors of the space environment. With a determination to succeed, she ultimately demonstrated to the world that women could conquer space. In the decades that followed, countries around the world began training female astronauts, but becoming a skilled female astronaut is no easy feat. In China, astronauts are primarily recruited from the ranks of pilots. Male candidates are typically active-duty fighter pilots, while female candidates are active-duty transport pilots.

In 2009, Liu Yang and Wang Yaping emerged as the first Chinese female astronauts from the second batch of female astronaut candidates. They showcased exceptional physical fitness during the selection process, enduring over 140 "devilish training" exercises, subjecting both their bodies and minds to rigorous tests. Failure in any aspect of the training resulted in elimination. Regarding physical training, Wang Yaping stated she participated in pull-ups, push-ups, barbell exercises, and other training programs alongside male astronauts, even competing with male colleagues in terms of muscle strength. Moreover, female astronauts must also learn nearly 60 academic subjects, covering fields such as higher mathematics, fundamentals of mechanics, electrical engineering, electronics, automatic control, English, computer science, meteorology, aerodynamics, and space medicine.

How do female astronauts address physiological issues they might encounter in space?

In 1959, the United States conducted its first astronaut selection process, choosing 7 astronauts from a pool of 32 military test pilots. The following year, the U.S. Air Force invited female pilot Jerrie Cobb to participate in a simulated astronaut selection process, and she successfully passed all the tests. In the summer of 1961, another 18 female pilots participated in the Mercury spacecraft selection, with 13 ultimately passing, suggesting a higher pass rate for women. However, in 1964, the female astronaut program was abruptly canceled. The reason was that NASA was concerned that menstruation in space could negatively impact work, causing the U.S. to lag behind the Soviet Union by over 20 years in sending women into space. It wasn't until the 1970s that NASA reconsidered including women as astronauts, but flight engineers and doctors expressed their concerns at the time.

In space, blood flows to the head, and if a woman is menstruating, blood could also flow backwards, potentially pooling in the abdomen, which could be incredibly dangerous, even life-threatening in severe cases. Moreover, menstruation would consume space and resources in the spacecraft, as the spacecraft has limited storage capacity and lacks dedicated facilities for handling blood-stained urine. The water onboard the spacecraft is recycled, requiring specialized equipment to purify urine.

In light of these concerns, NASA takes the issue of female menstruation seriously. They provide female astronauts with sanitary pads, tampons, and other supplies. Additionally, NASA also instructs astronauts to take birth control pills to regulate their menstrual cycles or use a device called a "hormonal intrauterine device" to prevent menstruation.

China has also undertaken specific preparations for female menstruation issues, providing female astronauts with specialized seats in the spacecraft and astronaut suits tailored for women, making it easier for them to use the restroom. They have also adjusted the systems for collecting urine and feces for women. Furthermore, the Chinese Space Administration has specially prepared non-toxic cosmetics for female astronauts, as research shows that women feel better after applying makeup. If a female astronaut experiences menstruation, they can take a break and forgo spacewalks.

To ensure the wellbeing of women in space, we need to continue researching new technologies, such as developing novel menstrual products and body-monitoring devices, and recognize the contributions of female astronauts to the space program.

Female astronauts possess inherent advantages in space:

• Stronger resilience to stress: Women are naturally endowed with greater resilience to stress and can handle unexpected situations calmly.

• Stronger adaptation to weightlessness: Estrogen in women's bodies helps maintain a normal heart rate in weightless conditions. In weightlessness, men experience increased fluid buildup in the eyes, leading to vision problems, a concern not encountered by women.

• Stronger psychological adjustment: Women are more adept at communication and can act as psychological counselors for their team members, helping mitigate the psychological pressures of prolonged space travel and maintaining team cohesion.

• Physical advantage: Women generally have smaller physiques and lighter weights than men. While this may not be a significant advantage on Earth, it matters in space, as smaller size means less space and weight, allowing for the installation of more equipment.

• Metabolic advantage: Women eat less and have slower metabolisms in space, generating less carbon dioxide and other waste products, easing the strain on spacecraft waste disposal systems and extending mission durations.

According to Dr. Schmidt, Director of the European Space Agency's Life Sciences Department, "Experiments on the space station show that long-duration space missions performed entirely by female astronauts are more successful. This is because female astronauts are more proactive, supportive of one another, and free from competition, making them more effective in completing tasks."

As the proverb goes, "two heads are better than one," working and eating with female astronauts keeps male astronauts' minds sharp, not only invigorating the atmosphere but also uplifting their moods.

Many worry that entering space might affect the fertility of female astronauts. However, both male and female pilots have successfully had healthy babies after returning to Earth. For example, Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space, gave birth to her first child just two years after returning to Earth. "Irina," the first child of two astronauts, was also born healthy. While the number of eggs in women may slightly decrease during their time in space, it recovers upon returning to Earth. No cases of long-term damage have been reported. Still, NASA recommends that female pilots freeze their eggs before embarking on space missions.

Female astronauts have made significant contributions to humanity's space exploration endeavors. Many believe women should stay home and focus on family rather than taking risks, but women have advantages in space that men lack. As Katie Coleman once wrote to Wang Yaping, "As you look out the window at the stars and our Earth, don't forget that billions of women are looking out the window through your eyes."

The journey for girls doesn't have to be about marriage and motherhood; it can be about reaching for the stars! Who says women are inferior to men? If your heart takes flight, soar through the clouds and touch the heavens! Dream big, and reach for the stars. From Tereshkova to the dozens of female astronauts who have followed in her footsteps, their dedication has sown the seeds of dreams for human space exploration.

Reference Information:

• Global Times, 2021-10-17, "Female Astronauts Can Wear Makeup in Space? How Do They Handle Their Periods?"

• Guangming Daily, 2021-10-22, "How Are Chinese Female Astronauts Forged?"

• Guangming Daily, 2021-11-16, "Globally, Over 100 Female Astronauts Have Been Selected, Representing 10% of the Total Number."

• China Space News, 2020-03-09, "Women in Space: Many Problems? Not a Big Deal!"

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