
Editor's Note: Cady Coleman, Ph.D. is a NASA astronaut – a veteran of two space missions, who has logged over 500 hours in space. She is assigned to the Expedition 26 crew and is scheduled to fly to the International Space Station aboard the Russian Soyuz 25 in late 2010. This is part of our year-long American Morning original series, "Counting Down Cady."
(CNN) – Cady Coleman was 18 when six women made history and helped make her future possible. They were part of the astronaut class of 1978. Sally Ride, America's first woman in space, was one of them.
Today, for our continuing original series "Counting Down Cady," our John Zarrella takes a look at the bond shared by female astronauts.


How many times have you moved homes/houses in your life?
Thank you girls! Thank you for your inspiration and being such great role models. Thank you for being true to yourself and your passion. It empowers other women to follow their dreams and not settle for anything less. It is also an empowering message of women bonding together and supporting each other instead of cat fighting and competing.
I had the pleasure of being on the same flight from Houston to Phoenix. She's a very friendly and exciting person to talk to and a great representative of NASA