In 1978 Nasa announced 35 new astronauts for a new era of spaceflight – and six of them were women. Here's how the Space Shuttle programme chipped away at one of Nasa's blind spots.

t is easy to wax lyrical about aliens. The prospect of life on other planets has shaped much of our culture and continues to inspire books, TV shows, movies – and the odd conspiracy theory of course. But amongst all the fantastical visions of little green men there is a real, actual hunt for alien life taking place right now, and it is not some fringe science or controversial idea. It is a systematic process that scientists are undertaking, with results expected in as little as a decade.