Jeannette Piccard

Jeannette Ridlon Piccard was an American highaltitude balloonist, and in later life an Episcopal priest. She held the womens altitude record for nearly three decades, and according to several contemporaneous accounts was regarded as the first woman in space.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Piccard was one of nine children born to Emily Ridlon and John Ridlon, who was president of the American Orthopaedic Association. She had a lifelong interest in science and religion. When she was 11, her mother asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up. Piccards replya priestsent her mother running out of the room in tears.

Source: Wikipedia