It occurred to me that it ought to be in the economic interests of any space agency to push for an astronaut core PRIMARILY made up of women.
They are (on average) smaller, lighter, and eat less, all advantages in an industry where every ounce of extra weight can cost hundreds of dollars.
In the early days of space flight, astronauts were converted test pilots who were all male due to military recruiting rules, which have now changed.
They are equal, if not better, to their male counterparts when it comes to mathematical and scientific ability, and we have finally reached a point where culture has stopped telling them otherwise.
And without a doubt, it would be a public relations coup for the first agency to send up an all-female crew into space.