BOOK REVIEW - The Mercury 13

The untold story of thirteen American women and the dream of space flight

written by Martha Ackmann - Foreword by Lynn Sherr

ISBN: 0-375-50744-2

The occasional chance I get to watch daytime television and I was lucky enough to see Martha Ackmann discussing her book. The hard work and dedication was evident as she spoke about the research she did to come up with this fabulous story: The Mercury 13.  But it's not a story - it is an investigation to an empowering event in the history of women and space flight.  The parallels between women and aviation and women in racing are prevalent. 

NASA was first approached to start a female astronaut program in the late 1950s. Believing that women could not physically handle space flight NASA declined.

Dr Stanley Mohler (medical officer for the Center for Aging Research) points out that "the aviation journals of the late 1950s were full of articles claiming that when women menstruate, their brain changes, they become distracted and can't think clearly."  Thus more prone to crashing. This and the fact that a female pilot's image was always in question - lipstick, nicely groomed - even high heels made the accomplishments of the many female pilots even more admirable.

Ackmann shows her skills as an investigative reporter as she divulges deeply into the working of the industry and the many people involved.  She does this without boring the reader with too much technical jargon or too much fluff.  It's a perfect balance of fact and background and an incredible subject that makes you wonder why the establishment at the time had such closed minds.  Russia had a female cosmonaut 20 years before the Americans - all because of attitude.

The thirteen women that were involved in the program were already women of accomplishment - all were experienced pilots with credentials that to this day are still rare....from both male and female perspective. 

Sacrifices were made and each woman was put to the test literally - with surprisingly positive results.  We follow along with one pilot in particular Jerrie Cobb - her flying resume was something to be respected and admired.  Our own racerchick Betty Skelton is mentioned.

Although the program was dropped and the dream faded for many - they remain heroes - and pioneers for all of us out there.  A good read that will leave you inspired by The Mercury 13.

Special thanks to Random House Canada for the book: www.randomhouse.ca