NASA astronaut Don Pettit took this photo during his most recent trip to the International Space Station. He returned to Earth after 220 days in space on April 20, 2025.

Of NASA's 47 active astronauts, 20 are women. And of the seven astronauts currently living at the space station, McClain and Ayers are the only women.

NASA’s Anne McClain emerged from the International Space Station alongside Nichole Ayers. Both military officers and pilots, they launched to the orbiting lab in March to replace NASA’s two ...