Introduction

In a shocking move that has sent ripples through the aerospace community, NASA has removed two inspirational comic books aimed at young women aspiring to become astronauts from its websites. The comics, titled "First Woman: NASA's Promise for Humanity" and "First Woman: Expanding Our Universe," depicted the journeys of young female trainees in anticipation of NASA's Artemis missions, which had previously promised to land the first woman on the lunar surface. However, this milestone appears to have been quietly abandoned as well.

Background

First introduced to shed light on the contributions and potential of women in space exploration, these two volumes had gained visibility since their publication in 2021 and 2023. Yet, as of March 2025, both comics have been entirely scrubbed from NASA's online presence, raising questions about the agency's commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Political Context

This decision seems to align with a broader trend initiated during the Trump administration, where federal agencies have been directed to eliminate what has been characterized as "woke" content. Reports suggest that NASA leadership under such directives has faced pressure to avoid themes related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Janet Petro, acting administrator of NASA and appointed by Trump, has even warned employees of potential repercussions for failing to report any DEI efforts that weren’t approved through official channels.

Impact on Representation

Amidst this backdrop, it is disheartening to see NASA's commitment to promoting female representation in space begin to falter. The agency's pages no longer carry the bold declaration that the Artemis mission will foster inclusivity through the inclusion of the first woman, a person of color, and an international astronaut on the Moon.

Broader Implications

The ramifications of such censorship extend beyond NASA. Similar policies are affecting various government entities, leading to significant missteps that reveal a troubling trend toward erasing important historical narratives. A recent incident involved the Pentagon mistakenly deleting a page honoring Jackie Robinson, a legendary baseball player and civil rights figure, citing an error involving an AI tool.

Support for the Comics

While comics like "First Woman" may not have a vast following, they are now being championed by at least one major supporter: the Iceland Space Agency. Daniel Leeb, the Executive Mission Director, has publicly condemned NASA's decision. He announced via LinkedIn that the Iceland Space Agency will host and share both comic issues on their website and plans to translate the stories into Icelandic. "We will also start an initiative to continue this story," Leeb affirmed.

Conclusion

In his statement, Leeb emphasized the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion: "I hope for my daughters and all the daughters on Earth, that we can all begin to use our voices to push back and say clearly that DEI is not the boogeyman some would have you believe. In fact, it is a foundational strength in geopolitics, economics, and society as a whole." As the debate over DEI practices in federal agencies continues, the future of women's representation in space exploration hangs in the balance. What does this mean not just for aspiring female astronauts but for the integrity and inclusivity of NASA's mission moving forward? The conversation is far from over, and it may well shape the next chapter in space exploration history.