On the Science and Technology radio show “Science Friday,” NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine, who attended the show as a guest, said that the first person to set foot on Mars will likely be a woman.

While announcing on the show that the next person to go to the Moon might be a woman, Bridenstine added that a woman will also most probably be the first person to land on the red planet. “It is likely to be a woman, the first next person on the Moon. It is also true that the first person on Mars is likely to be a woman,” the NASA administrator said. He stated that the space agency did not have the name of a particular woman in mind.

On the occasion of the National Women’s Month, NASA announced that it will have its first all-female spacewalk, where astronauts Anne McClain and Christina Koch will be floating around space. “We have the first all-female spacewalk happening this month at the end of March, which is of course, National Women’s Month. So NASA is committed to making sure that we have a broad and diverse set of talent,” it was announced.

NASA was joined by six women originally in 1978. Women now comprise 34 percent of active astronauts (more than 6100 women) at the independent agency. While a woman is yet to set foot on the Moon, 12 men have walked so far on the Earth’s permanent natural satellite. 

Strong budget support for our Moon to Mars effort, a new crew launches to the @Space_Station and training for @NASA_Orion recovery … a few of the stories to tell you about – This Week at NASA! Watch: https://t.co/pLXIhTSA7d. pic.twitter.com/UvtK9Sq2tI

— NASA (@NASA) March 16, 2019