We, as a country, have been in space for more than 60 years. Weve sent machines, monkeys, and men to space and entrusted each to gather important information about the universe to further human knowledge. But for the first time since we first launched a man into the dark expanse in 1961, this month we saw an all-female spacewalk, marking the beginning of our true preparedness for the beyond.

To embrace space travel, you must also embrace the value of the diversity of Earth. You must be able to see how men and women alike, and people of all races, are made equal in the safety of atmosphere and oxygen before you can hope to traverse the uncertainty of space. Principles like these are woven into the outreach of the Astronomical Society of New Haven (ASNH), an organization that has been serving southern Connecticut for more than 80 years.

Women have been withheld from doing stuff like this for a long time, said Greg Barker, President of the ASNH. In reality, they can do everything the guys can do. Space is pretty good in that way. You dont have to be physically stronger than another person, everything is weightless so its an equal playing field.

As an amateur astronomer with an oddly specific interest in astrophysics, I often consider the implications of our inability to see similarities in folks for really we arent too different. In that, I find it curious at best and damaging at worst to proclaim any assertion to progress past our atmosphere on to Mars while simultaneously planning for walls that separate and alienate us.

This month as astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir took on the task of performing the first-ever all-female spacewalk, I confronted whether I should be excited, or dissatisfied.

On the one hand, I know that organizations like the ASNH are diligently working to ensure that a consistent love of space is coupled with a persistent valuation of skill and diversity and thats good. We need more of that. On the other hand, I grow increasingly concerned with our inability to practice those ideals from the safety of Earth.

When it comes to space travel, Barker said, You have to have everyone involved in it no matter who or what they are. Everyone has their place in this universe, and they need to be able to contribute it.

With regard to our contribution, there have been 339 Americans to space, which accounts for more than 60 percent of the world's astronauts. Of that number, fewer than 20 have been black, fewer than 15 have been Latinx, and exactly 40 have been women. Without even accounting for the various other types of ethnic groups, a clear pattern emerges in which its easy to assume space has been lacking in inclusion.

But is that important?

Youll find it hard to convince me that diversity in anything isnt helpful. Youll find it harder to convince me that when push comes to shove and a shove could be the difference between life and death having a team with a diversity of insight and skills isnt the most ideal scenario.

That is, in part, the value of local organizations working to ensure that anyone interested in astronomy has the tools, resources, support, and community to do so. Organizations like ASNH are a much-needed first step to ensuring an entire class of amateur astronomers can progress toward careers that will propel them to the stars. According to Barker, his organization is typically most attendees first introduction to the night sky from there, the interest to continue with the hobby and potentially the career in part relies on how much support you have to persist.

The organization regularly engages a group of Girl Scouts who, in addition to learning about the stars, are eager to have a hands-on experience with the telescopes and other stargazing equipment. With this group, he said, the most rewarding part is seeing their excitement after seeing the rings of Saturn. The most disheartening, though, is watching their interest wane over time.

If we get one out of every group to do something with space science or science in general, thats a plus in our favor, he said. Really, I dont know why their interest wanes after the years or if theres some other factor for why theyre not pursuing it. But the opportunity is there and theres nothing stopping them.

Im eager to see the future of this country ensure that girls and kids from diverse backgrounds have equal opportunity and support to pursue space science because, in the grand scheme of things, the sky is too limiting for whats possible for us.

Mercy Quaye is a social change communications consultant and a New Haven native. Her column appears Mondays in Hearst Connecticut Media daily newspapers and is solely her opinion. Contact her at @Mercy_WriteNow and SubtextWithMercy@gmail.com.

Read more:

Opinion: Considering the first all-female space walk - CT Insider