NASA Astronaut Zena Cardman Captured in Historic Portrait Ahead of ISS Mission

NASA astronaut Zena Cardman is set to fly to the International Space Station later this year, with a striking portrait captured by photographer Josh Valcarcel showcasing her in an extravehicular mobility unit spacesuit. This image reflects a lineage of women in space, echoing the iconic 1983 photograph of Anna Fisher, one of the first U.S. women to fly into space. Additionally, historic footage of Bruce McCandless II's untethered flight in 1984 is resurfacing, highlighting the risks and innovations of space exploration. McCandless was the first person to float freely in space using a jet-powered backpack, demonstrating groundbreaking capabilities for astronaut operations. Meanwhile, NASA is blending art and science, as reflected in a recent live episode featuring astronaut Matthew Dominick and musician Reggie Watts discussing the intersection of creativity and space. This discussion is part of NASA's ongoing efforts to connect artistic expression with scientific exploration, including a new tool that allows users to create music from Hubble Space Telescope imagery.