The successful launch and return of the Artemis II mission in 2026 marked a historic moment for space exploration. But for many, especially young women, the mission represented something more: proof that women can work in male-dominated spaces.
The mission, led by NASA, includes Christina Koch, who became the first woman to travel around the moon. Koch has been a highly trained astronaut since 2023 and served as a mission specialist on the Artemis II expedition, responsible for specialized tasks such as monitoring the spacecraft’s systems, assisting with navigation, conducting research and supporting team communication. She was also heavily involved in the emergency preparedness protocols and technical operations during the flight.
Before being selected for the 2026 mission, Koch was already familiar with making history, having previously completed the longest single spaceflight by a woman—328 days aboard the International Space Station—as well as participating in the first all-female space walk in 2019. These experiences and known technical abilities earned her a place on one of NASA’s most anticipated missions in decades, Artemis II.
For female students interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), watching Koch take on such a critical role made a powerful impression. “Seeing Christina Koch take off, live in and land in the Artemis II rocket was extremely inspiring, not only for me, but other girls all over,” said PV senior Natalie Brown, who aspires to become an aerospace engineer.
Jackie Shea, a science teacher at PV, agreed, stating that “representation for all races and genders is important in every field. Anyone can do anything and be in any career as long as they work hard and apply themselves.”
Based on this thinking, recognition at the highest levels of science is proving to be incredibly impactful for many students and teachers, as women continue to face numerous challenges in everyday learning environments. Oftentimes, girls interested in technical STEM fields find themselves in the minority of classes and extracurricular activities.
“In my two years taking engineering courses at PV, I have often struggled to be heard and taken seriously by my male peers,” Brown mentioned. “I have heard numerous things about what girls can and cannot do, been told I get ‘too emotional’ and worked up when it comes to decision making, and been overlooked in majority male groups for projects.”
Because of these experiences, students like Brown feel that the visibility of women like Koch and other women working on Artemis II motivates them to persist despite the difficulties. Knowing that women are a significant part of complex scientific breakthroughs reinforces the idea that success in STEM can be based on skill and hard work rather than on gender.
And as Koch’s role opens a window of broader discussion, many are also looking to historical role models who paved the way for women in science and mathematics. One example being Katheine Goble, a mathematician whose calculations were essential to early U.S. space exploration but has gone relatively unnoticed and uncredited until now.
“The work of astronauts like Christina Koch and mathematicians like Katherine Goble have greatly inspired my career path,” Brown said. “I have always loved creating things and been interested in space, but seeing women like them achieve things in the face of adversity only makes me think that I am more capable of achieving my dream.”
As Artemis II completed its mission of traveling to the dark side of the moon and back, its technical goals remained the primary focus. Yet with a woman claiming her spot in a highly visible role on a historic space mission, a clear message that exceeds expectations is being sent; the future of STEM includes everyone.
“A little girl should be able to look at a group of scientists or doctors or astronauts and imagine herself in their place. If there is no representation in male-dominated fields, kids will feel like they are unable to do those jobs because they have never seen anyone like them do it before,” Brown concluded.
