Earle leads the first all-female aquanaut team in the Tektite II, Mission 6, an underwater habitat.
On February 15, 1970, Sylvia Earle and her team of four women embarked on the groundbreaking Tektite II, Mission 6. This NASA-sponsored mission marked a historic first: it was the first time an all-female aquanaut team lived and worked in saturation diving conditions, spending two weeks in an underwater habitat. This mission demonstrated women's capability in marine exploration while challenging societal norms and gender roles prevalent at the time. The success of this expedition underscored the importance of gender diversity in scientific research and exploration.