For readers of The Astronaut Wives Club; The Mercury 13 reveals the little-known true story of the remarkable women who trained for NASA space flight.In 1961; just as NASA launched its first man into space; a group of women underwent secret testing in the hopes of becoming America’s first female astronauts. They passed the same battery of tests at the legendary Lovelace Foundation as did the Mercury 7 astronauts; but they were summarily dismissed by the boys’ club at NASA and on Capitol Hill. The USSR sent its first woman into space in 1963; the United States did not follow suit for another twenty years. For the first time; Martha Ackmann tells the story of the dramatic events surrounding these thirteen remarkable women; all crackerjack pilots and patriots who sometimes sacrificed jobs and marriages for a chance to participate in America’s space race against the Soviet Union. In addition to talking extensively to these women; Ackmann interviewed Chuck Yeager; John Glenn; Scott Carpenter; and others at NASA and in the White House with firsthand knowledge of the program; and includes here never-before-seen photographs of the Mercury 13 passing their Lovelace tests. Despite the crushing disappointment of watching their dreams being derailed; the Mercury 13 went on to extraordinary achievement in their lives: Jerrie Cobb; who began flying when she was so small she had to sit on pillows to see out of the cockpit; dedicated her life to flying solo missions to the Amazon rain forest; Wally Funk; who talked her way into the Lovelace trials; went on to become one of the first female FAA investigators; Janey Hart; mother of eight and; at age forty; the oldest astronaut candidate; had the political savvy to steer the women through congressional hearings and later helped found the National Organization for Women. A provocative tribute to these extraordinary women; The Mercury 13 is an unforgettable story of determination; resilience; and inextinguishable hope.From the Hardcover edition.
#75251 in Books Vintage 2002-08-13 2002-08-13Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.97 x .58 x 5.16l; .45 #File Name: 0375724443259 pagesGreat product!
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Suriving the hard times; and all times are hard.By Jeanette ArmstrongI just finished this book and I found it rather good. It was written by a grandson who had never met his grandfather; but he did a good job of channeling him through interviews with other family members and people who knew him. He was a man who lived about as impoverished life as could be possible without starving to death; times were hard beyond our belief. There were no social programs to help feed or shelter a family in the early part of the 1900's. He did make moonshine to supplement his meager support of his growing family and his efforts to evade the law were quite ingenuous. He was a good man and in spite of his short comings; he did have principles and held himself to a higher standard; sort of. I felt I knew a lot about people surviving hard times and the great depression; but this added to what I already knew; there's always more to learn. I'd recommend this as a good read.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. I discovered Rick Bragg's writing with his book about Jerry ...By WinolapnI discovered Rick Bragg's writing with his book about Jerry Lee Lewis. This is the third book of Rick's I have read; and even got my husband into reading them and he enjoys them as much as I do. Since we grew up in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in N.C. in similar circumstances; we can relate every paragraph to someone we knew or our upbringing. Don't know which of his books to start next.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Good Read about the SouthBy Kindle CustomerRick Bragg is one of those writers who oozes all things South when reading his books. I was first introduced to him after he received the Pulitzer; and have stuck with him reading his stuff as fast as they came off the printing press. Loved "Ave's Man". When reading it; felt like I was there buried in the freshly cut grass that gave off it uniqueness sweet smell. Bragg sure know how to wring out the South in his own words.
