Today, Liu Yang became China’s first female astronaut in space as she and two other astronauts aboard the Shenzhou 9 capsule docked with what will become the first leg of a Chinese space station.  Although Liu Yang, who was also an Air Force pilot, has a lot of reasons to celebrate, she’s also in some good company for this day. Twenty-nine years ago, Dr. Sally Ride became the first American woman astronaut launched into space aboard the space shuttle Challenger. After her space-faring career ended years later, she started a company to get kids more interested in science.

While that was also a magnificent accomplishment, let’s go back a little further. June 18 has one more notable woman who escaped terra firma and made history. In 1928, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. While that record would have been good enough for many, it didn’t ring Earhart’s bell. She did it again without the male pilots in 1935. Without the guys slowing her down, she set a new solo flight record across the Atlantic in 13 and a half hours.

Congrats to Liu Yang! While you’re orbiting the earth, remember this is just the beginning. Hopefully we’ll see great things from you in the future as well.Tweet