Blue Origin to Fly its First Black Woman Astronaut: Aisha Bowe

Former NASA rocket scientist, founder, and CEO Aisha Bowe is manifested on a future flight of New Shepard. She is the first Black woman confirmed to travel on a commercial flight to space with Blue Origin aboard New Shepard.

“I’ve dedicated my life to helping people break stereotypes. I am honored to follow in the footsteps of these pioneers as we begin to realize the potential of public access to space.”

Aisha Bowe.

Aisha Bowe is expected to be the sixth Black woman to cross the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space. Her flight was announced 30 years after former NASA astronaut Mae Jemison became the first Black woman to travel to space in 1992. Since Jemison, there are only four other Black women who carry that distinction: NASA astronauts Stephanie Wilson, Joan Higginbotham, Jessica Watkins, and Dr. Sian Proctor of the SpaceX Inspiration4 Mission.

“Today’s historic announcement about my flight is both surreal and emotional. I’m thrilled, I’m excited, and I know that this experience will change my life forever,” Bowe said. “I’ve dedicated my life to helping people break stereotypes. I am honored to follow in the footsteps of these pioneers as we begin to realize the potential of public access to space.”

Aisha Bowe has been Preparing for This Opportunity for a Lifetime

Bowe, the child of working-class parents in Ann Arbor, Michigan, always loved science fiction and math. Advised to study cosmetology by a high school guidance counselor, she instead chose a different path. Bowe elected to study mathematics at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor before transferring to the University of Michigan earning both an undergraduate and master’s degree in aerospace engineering. She has worked for NASA as a rocket scientist and served as U.S State Department global speaker, inspiring students around the world.

Aisha Bowe is also an accomplished serial entrepreneur. Recognized on Inc.’s fifth annual Female Founders 100 list, honoring a bold group of 100 women whose innovations and ideas are shaping the world into a better place, Bowe is the founder and CEO of STEMBoard, an award-winning tech company ranked on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies in America. She also shares the distinction of being one of a select group of women of color who have raised over $1 million in funding. Bowe’s venture-backed LINGO, a hands-on, self-paced coding kit that enables students to learn how to code at home is sold on Amazon, Target and Walmart.

(Images provided with Aisha Bowe news release and from file)