At the end of the year, another teacher was looking for book suggestions for her upper level readers in the fall. She knew I had done a Hidden Figures unit with my class and wanted to continue the space theme!! She asked if my students had read Mercury 13. My reply was no, there is no Mercury 13. I started explaining that the first American astronauts were actually called the Mercury 7. She said, no the women. I quickly searched and indeed she was correct. I was shocked and embarrassed, as someone with such an interest in space exploration, I had never heard of them and immediately decided I needed to further educate myself. So, I ordered the book of the same title. I have since discovered more books, included one for students! I have compiled a list of resources to discover yourself and inspire your students with these women's grit and determination. Who are the Mercury 13? The Mercury 13 are a group of thirteen women pilots who not only wanted to be astronauts, but worked hard to pursue this goal despite many obstacles. They are also referred to as the FLATs - First Lady Astronaut Trainees. Many of them were members of the Ninety - Nines, an organization of female pilots started by Amelia Earhart. Some flew as WASPS (Women Airforce Service Pilots) during World War II. They passed the same tests as the Mercury 7 astronauts, but were prohibited from becoming astronauts solely because...they were women. The first woman in space could have been an American, but the lack of support for the program did not allow this to occur. The good news is these women won't remain hidden figures, as a tv series is in the works with Jessica Chastain involved in the project !! I'll leave you in more capable hands and turn it over to the women who experienced this firsthand. Listen to the Women in the Right Stuff BBC podcast narrated by Wally Funk, one of the Mercury 13 women. In Their Own Words Jerrie Cobb, Solo Pilot by: Jerrie Cobb Tethered Mercury: A Pilot's Memoir: The Right Stuff - - But the Wrong Sex by: Bernice Trimble Steadman Books The Mercury 13: The True Story of the Thirteen Women and the Dream of Space Flight by: Martha Ackmann (pictured above) Promised the Moon - The Untold Story of the First Women in the Space Race by: Stephanie Nolen Right Stuff, Wrong Sex: America's First Women in Space Program (Gender Relations in the American Experience) by: Margaret A. Weitekamp Almost Astronauts: 13 Women who Dared to Dream by: Tanya Lee Stone ** This is targeted for a younger audience and was in this spring's Scholastic Book Fair! Articles NASA - Image of some of the Mercury 13 at KSC watching the STS- 63 launch with the first female shuttle pilot, Eileen Collins. https://www.nasa.gov/missions/highlights/f_mercury13.html Ninety - Nines - Wally Funk talks about her experience. https://www.ninety-nines.org/mercury13.htm BBC Science - An article about Wally Funk. http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-36824898 Mercury 13 - A website dedicated entirely to providing information about these \ women. http://www.mercury13.com/ Rocket Women - A website dedicated to inspiring women to pursue a STEM career, especially space related! http://rocket-women.com/2017/02/rocket-women-featured-in-bbcs-women-with-the-right-stuff/ Smithsonian www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/meet-american-women-who-trained-space-1960s-180963704/?platform=hootsuite Movies Mercury 13: Secret Astronauts - 1998 TV movie Available in parts on Youtube Part 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWySNMbGz0w The Purple Plain - short film inspired by the Mercury 13 women https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/662938798/the-purple-plain-a-film-inspired-by-the-mercury-13 Peace, Love and Space Exploration,
CAPCOM Conrad signing off
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AuthorApollo 13 fan. Educator. Lifelong Learner. Third generation Boilermaker. Space Exploration Enthusiast. Collaborator. Click Subscribe to stay updated!Archives
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