Page 71 - Fyne Times Spring 2014
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Pamela Melroy – Astronaut
Women have been traveling to space since
1963, although no females have ever walked
on the moon. Their influence on space
programmes around the world might not be
equal, but it has at least been present for a
long time. However, very few women have
been in a position of command. Pamela
Melroy started her career at university when
she studied physics and astronomy. After
studying she was commissioned in the US
Air Force and worked as a test pilot for a few
years. She also saw active service in Panama
and Iraq. In 1994 she got a flight support job
with where she worked for a few years before
being selected as a pilot for mission STS-92
in October 2000. She spent 7 days at the International Space Station before
returning safely to earth. Two years later she was a pilot again for a similar mission.
Then in 2007 she became one of only two females to have commanded a flight. She
was initially not even on the crew, but after lift-off was delayed she was selected
as the new commander. In total, Pamela spent 38 days in space and in that time
travelled 16 million miles!
Not just a job for the boys
There have been many pioneering women over the years
from the first female doctor to the first female pilot. But you
would have thought that in this day and age, most jobs would
be well-populated by both genders, even the ones that require
a bit of muscle. However, there are still a few professions
where, for no conceivable reason, there is a lack of female
representation. Here are four women who are blazing a path
in their male dominated professions.
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