Joan Goodwin’s sister, Barbara, called to tell her about a TV commercial featuring Nichelle Nichols announcing that NASA was recruiting scientists—specifically women—for the astronaut corps. The call stirred Joan, who had long admired the legacy of women like the First Lady Astronaut Trainees but had internalized NASA’s past exclusion of women. Encouraged yet cautious, Joan requested an application without telling Barbara, copied her credentials, and mailed them.

Shortly after, Joan saw the news that NASA had chosen 35 new astronaut candidates, including six women, and realized she had not been selected. The disappointment hit her hard, and she was late to class for the first time.

A year later, in 1979, Joan overheard that applications had reopened, now seeking astronomers and astrophysicists. She immediately requested another application and was this time invited among 121 candidates to interview at Johnson Space Center. At the Sheraton Kings Inn orientation, she noted the mix of military and scientist applicants and noticed another woman with curly brown hair and an olive-green shirt, who did not introduce herself. Antonio Lima, director of flight at the Astronaut Office, presented the space shuttle program, emphasizing its reusable design, frequent flights, and ambitions for a lasting presence in space.

Throughout the week, Joan underwent medical and psychological evaluations, including heart-rate monitoring, vision and hearing tests, bloodwork, treadmill endurance, and high-pressure interviews. In a claustrophobia test—sealed in a fabric ball with oxygen—Joan felt calm and even fell asleep, demonstrating composure under sensory deprivation.

Two months later, Antonio called Joan to offer her a place in Astronaut Group 9 as a mission specialist. He informed her that there would be eight pilot candidates and eight mission specialist candidates, and that Vanessa Ford, from Joan’s interview group, had also been selected. Joan accepted enthusiastically, learning that no men from their specific interview session had made the final cut.