One year from now, the shuttle Discovery will blast off on the last planned space shuttle mission. Current chief astronaut Steve Lindsey has been selected as part of the crew. When Lindsey begins his training next month, Peggy Whitson will step up to become the first female chief astronaut.
From Space.com:
“NASA on Friday revealed the six people who will blast off on what is currently the last scheduled space shuttle mission. The list includes the agency’s top astronaut and two others that are in orbit today.”
“Lindsey and his crew will begin training for their mission next month, when he will hand over his chief astronaut position to veteran spaceflyer Peggy Whitson. Whitson, who became the first female commander of the space station in 2007, will be the first woman to hold NASA’s top astronaut job.”
Awesome.
Good for her! Another glass ceiling broken.