Two female veteran astronauts have shared their insights to inspire the next generation, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and determination in overcoming societal barriers and personal doubts to achieve success in space careers, especially for women.
Responding to a media query on the growing role of women in space sector at the 76th International Astronautical Congress in Sydney, Australia, Yi So-yeon, the first South Korean astronaut in space, stressed the importance of gender equality and diversity in space exploration.
"Forget about your gender, but at the same time, remember your gender. Because it’s really, really important. Because we are all the same human kind, whatever gender you have and we have no limits to our capabilities and possibilities. As an engineer, I really want to see more females in the space field, especially among astronauts, because we don’t have enough medical data from female astronauts. When I try to share my data to the any researcher, it cannot be anonymous because the woman who flew in 2008 and her race is Asian, it cannot be anonymous without having a name, right? We need more diverse medical and healthcare data," said Yi.
Julie Payette, the first Canadian astronaut to visit the International Space Station, shared her journey and advice for young women aspiring to space careers.
"I would say 'go for it, build your skills, go to school, bring everything, put everything in your basket, so that when the opportunity comes, then you might be ready to at least apply and call. When I was a little girl, I was watching American guys who were extraordinary aviators and test pilots walk on the moon, and they spoke a language that I did not understand -- English. Because I'm a girl from Canada and I had never been in an airplane and I didn't speak English. But they inspired me, and I thank to this day my family for encouraging me to pursue my dreams, even though at the time they were completely ridiculous," said Payette.
Chinese astronauts Liu Yang, Wang Yangping and Wang Haoze have been working on China's space station, with more female space engineers supporting their efforts.
The five-day 76th International Astronautical Congress opened in Sydney on Monday titled "Sustainable Space: Resilient Earth." The event serves as a global platform for fostering dialogue, collaboration, and innovation on space-based solutions for Earth and beyond.
Female astronauts encourage young women to pursue space dreams
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
