A Record: Four Women in Space

The space shuttle Discovery is on its way to the International Space Station. Discovery and seven astronauts blasted off an hour before sunrise today to deliver thousands of pounds of supplies to keep the space station running after the shuttles retire in late 2010. Discovery carries three women: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, Stephanie Wilson, and Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger.

A fourth, California native Tracy Caldwell Dyson, arrived at the space station on Sunday (courtesy of the Russians). This is a YouTube video of her arrival:

That sets a record for the most women flying on spacecraft at the same time. The shuttle and station crews will number 13: eight Americans, three Russians and two Japanese. (Only three missions remain after this one.)

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http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2010-04-02-space-shuttle-discovery-launch_N.htm