Almost Astronauts

Written by Tanya Lee Stone

Thirteen women challenge NASA's gender barrier, igniting a legacy of empowerment.

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134 pages

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Bookroo's summary

In 1958, NASA's unspoken rule was clear: astronauts had to be men. Yet, thirteen women dared to defy this norm, proving their mettle against prejudice and powerful opposition. Though they never reached space, their courage and determination inspired future generations of women to soar beyond the skies. Discover the untold story of the Mercury 13, pioneers who blazed a trail for women in aviation and space exploration. What barriers will they break next?

From the publisher

They had the right stuff. They defied the prejudices of the time. And they blazed a trail for generations of women to follow. What does it take to be an astronaut? Excellence at flying, courage, intelligence, resistance to stress, top physical shape – any checklist would include these. But when America created NASA in 1958, there was another unspoken rule: you had to be a man. Here is the tale of thirteen women who proved that they were not only as tough as the toughest man but also brave enough to challenge the government. They were blocked by prejudice, jealousy, and the scrawled note of one of the most powerful men in Washington. But even though the Mercury 13 women did not make it into space, they did not lose, for their example empowered young women to take their place in the sky, piloting jets and commanding space capsules. Almost Astronauts is the story of thirteen true pioneers of the space age. Back matter includes an author’s note, an appendix, further reading, a bibliography, sources, source notes, and an index.