In what we have been in 2025, two sideral milestones have been made that are meant ‘A big step for humanity’ and something historical for women.
The space was frowned on April 14 First exclusively female crewFormed by prominent personalities such as singer Katy Perry, journalist Lauren Sánchez or Aisha Bowe Aerospace Engineer.
His flight lasted only 11 minutes and his preparation was relatively simple and fast. For astral travel, however, conditioning usually lasts years and in most cases implies, They pass women with menorrhea.
The absence of menstruation is artificially caused By continuously taking the pill or the implementation of reversible contraceptives of long -term action such as the IUD.
Do not have the period It can cause problems Ranging from hormonal mismatches – with symptoms such as stifling, vaginal dryness, osteoporosis and a greater risk of cardiovascular disorders – even difficulties to become pregnant in the future.
As explained by an article made by Varsha Jain and Virginia Wotring, from the Houston Space Health Center (US), astronauts who prepare for an exit for a job up to 11 years with a medically induced amenorrhea will.
With this scenario, and the few weeks that the six women crossed the line of Karm – the internationally recognized edge of the space – the second galactic milestone of the year took place: the Hypatia II mission.
Since two weeks, eight scientists and an expert in communication started the expedition to the Mars Desert Research Station, which simulates the characteristics of the ‘Red Planet’ in Utah.
The mission has succeeded in identifying a series of minerals and rocks that explain the geological history of the place, very similar to that of Mars. Hypatia II has found a mineral for the first time in the area that is very rich in strontium, which is an indicator for the presence of abundant water in liquid form in the past.
What makes this mission special is that it was The first in which the menstrual cup was used By astronauts in a simulated cosmic environment.
It was made with the aim of visibly making the possibility that women participate in astral journeys without losing their cycle and studying their use as a natural fertilizer of plants.
Astrocup
This milestone has been possible thanks to the collaboration with the Portuguese research team of Astrocup. The group, formed by two scientists and four space racks, is Pioneer when testing the viability of menstrual and space environments.
The doctor Ligia F. CoelhoResearcher at Astrocup and at the University of Cornell explains that everything came about during a meeting with a space agency.
There it was told that “it was” complicated to send women to the missions, because recording tampons and compresses considerably increased the load of the ship. “
Lithia intervened and increased the possibility of testing with a menstrual period. “What? Menstrual glasses? What is that?” One of the responsible person answered.
The Astrocup team consists of Dr. Ligia F. Coelho, a researcher at Cornell University; Catarina Miranda, scientific and scientific communicator for Astrocup and Aerospace Engineers Miguel Morgado, João Canas, Diogo Nunes and Catarina Pereira.
With this principle, the six experts decided to work together in 2021 to work together in the inclusion and comfort of astronauts. They emphasize that during their research They have not found a rejection, but “surprise because they have not thought about it before.”
Hypatia II tested the glasses in their recent mission and everything went very well, although the Portuguese team wants to be careful and claims that it is still fast with total security that they are the best solution. “They are good, but we still analyze the data“, Apostille Licia.
Catarina MirandaScientific and communicator for astrocup, points out that it is vital of this advance that “it gives the option to choose women, and Add alternatives to decide which method is the most comfortable“
Before the organization they warn that the hope that humanity would be a long or even indefinite period, if the Moon or Mars would be unfeasible if all the women who travel had their oppressed menstrual cycle.
A powerful fertilizer
During the mission, Two of the crew members of Hypatia II were at the period. Thanks to the fact that both used a menstrual cup, it can be reused Blood as a natural fertilizer of plants.
The Geologist of the group, Marina MartínezDetails that they diluted the current with water and gutters on a seedbed of legumes that have previously germinated at the station.
Hypatia II reuses the menstrual blood of two astronauts as a natural fertilizer for plants
The provisional results of the investigation showed that The mixture ensured that they sprout for and with a larger amount of roots than those that were not fertilized. Although they clarify that this experiment will continue to develop on earth to obtain quantifiable data.
Ricardo Díaz MartínDean of the College of Chemicals and the Association of Chemists and Chemical Engineers or Madrid, Details: “Menstrual blood can be used as a natural organic fertilizer, because the components – nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus – are the basis that practically all of natural organic fertilizers.
It is of course necessary to dilute water and take into account that every woman presents a different menstrual composition that must study in every specific case “.
Female space
Of the almost 600 people who have made space travel“ Only 75 have been womenAccording to the European Space Agency. The first to do this was the Soviet Valentina Tereshkova 1963Although two years later than a male counterpart.
What seemed like at the start of the female galactic journey, at the same time blasting. The men kept taking sideral steps while They had to wait 19 years until this performance would repeatThat time by Svetlana Savitskaya.
NASA did not go in the comparison until 1983, when she sent the third woman, the American Sally Ride.
For six days of mission, the enormous amount of 100 buffers was provided and his return of the media had to make all kinds of sexist comments.
“Did you cry if something went wrong? “Or” do you want to become a mother? “were some of the questions he received.
Sara García, the only Spanish astronaut of the latest promotion of the European Space Agency.
In the 1980s, the female value was often overshadowed. In 2019, after almost 30 years, although society had been advanced, they still took place that women relegated to the background.
A historic milestone was planned in March of that year: the first galactic walk was fully performed by women, with astronauts Anne McClain and Christina Koch. However, the duo had to solve because there was only one space suit according to the dimensions.
At the moment many barriers have been broken, but not enough, since then of the 2,862 employees of the European Space Agency, 1,989 are men and 873 women. However, the last promotion of astronauts shows a jet light.
He 75% of the 22,000 candidates who presented were men; Despite this, of the 17 chosen ones, there were eight womenemphasize Sara García, the first Spanish.
