Great Women in Aviation #1 - Mercury 13

by Henry M. Holden

Overview

In 1983, when Dr. Sally Ride made the historic flight that rocketed her into space, she succeeded in a quest that started two decades earlier. Her flight came 22 years, 36 manned missions, and 57 astronauts after the first Mercury capsule splashed down in the Atlantic.
The delay between the first Mercury mission and Dr. Ride's launch into space was not because of women's lack of interest. Look Magazine's February, 1960 issue asked in bold headlines, "Should a girl be first in space?" A photo showed 33 year old automobile test driver, and pilot Betty Skelton dressed in a space suit, posing in front of an Atlas Booster rocket. She was visiting Cape Canaveral as a reporter for the magazine, not as an astronaut candidate. According to Ms. Skelton, two thousand American women, mostly teenagers, volunteered for space flight. With such a large number, surely some would qualify. In the article, Air Force Brigadier General, Don Flickinger said without elaboration, "Women would not be given serious consideration for space travel until three person space vehicles were in use."

Product Details

BN ID:	2940013486867
Publisher:	Black Hawk Publishing Co.
Publication date:	11/17/2011
Series:	Great Women in Aviation , #1
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	64 KB

About the Author

Henry M. Holden is an aviation historian and author.
In 1994, Mr. Holden was cited in the United States Congressional Record for his work in recording the history of American women in aviation, and was the recipient of the Author's Award from the New Jersey Institute of Technology for his book Her Mentor Was An Albatross - The Autobiography of Pioneer Pilot Harriet Quimby.
In 1996, he launched the Women in Aviation Resource Center, an online repository of educational, historical, and networking resources for women interested in all aspects of aviation. In 2010 Henry was awarded the New Jersey Aviation Hall of Fame Distinguished Service Award.
He is the author of over 900 magazine and newspaper articles appearing in national magazines such as Private Pilot, Plane & Pilot, Airport Journals, World Airnews, USAir, In-Flight-USA, American Aviation Historical Society's Journal, Women in Aviation, Woman Pilot, Airport Press and Aviation History, Vintage Airplane, Warbirds, Sport Aviation, and Upscale Living Magazine. He has been a commentator on the History Channel, and has published 38 books.
The original founder of the DC-3/Dakota Historical Society, Henry is a member of the Aviation Hall of Fame (New Jersey), Women in Aviation International, AOPA, and EAA.
Mr. Holden speaks at various events around the country and is available as a guest lecturer. His work has been the subject of a number of radio and cable television shows in New Jersey, Georgia, Oregon, and Washington State.
Henry Holden is formerly the News Editor East for Airport Journals and was a regular monthly contributor to the paper.