Prompt Cast
The Mercury 13: Pioneering Women in the Space Program
TLDR The Mercury 13 were a group of women who underwent the same tests as the Mercury 7 astronauts, but were dismissed due to societal norms and attitudes. Despite not flying in space themselves, they paved the way for future women astronauts.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The Mercury 13 were a group of women who underwent the same tests as the Mercury 7 astronauts in hopes of becoming America's first female astronauts, but were dismissed by NASA and Capitol Hill.
01:40
The initial pool of candidates for the Mercury program was all men, but one person in the program was curious what would happen if women were subjected to the same tests as the male astronauts.
02:51
Geraldine "Jerry" Cobb, one of the most accomplished female pilots in the world, passed the same tests as the male Mercury astronauts and ranked in the top 2% of all the astronaut candidates, leading to the recruitment of more women for the program.
04:01
The Mercury 13, a group of 13 women who passed the same physical tests as the male Mercury astronauts, were not publicly promoted and did not compete against each other, but their potential inclusion in the astronaut program was undermined by societal norms and attitudes.
05:07
Jacqueline Cochran's testimony against the inclusion of women in the astronaut program, citing concerns about pregnancy and marriage, ultimately undermined the program despite her funding and support.
06:16
President Lyndon Johnson quashed the final appeal to include women in the astronaut program, leading to the United States not allowing women to apply until 1978, when six women qualified and eventually flew in space.
07:28
Jerry Cobb and the other members of the Mercury 13 never flew in space, but they paved the way for the women who came after them and did.
