Jerrie Cobb
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Geraldyn ("Jerrie") M. Cobb (b. 1931 in Norman, Oklahoma) is an American aviator. She was also part of the Mercury 13, a group of women who underwent the astronaut selection tests in secret at the same time as the original Mercury Seven astronauts.
As a child growing up in Oklahoma, Cobb took to aviation at an early age, with her father's encouragement. Cobb first flew in a plane at age 12, in her father's open-cockpit biplane. By the age of 17, Cobb had earned her private pilots license, and received her commercial pilots license a year later.
Although she successfuly complete the same three types of testing that NASA used to select male astronaut candidates, there was no Congressional support for adding women to the astronaut program. Cobb fought, along with other Mercury 13 participants, to be allowed to train alongside the men, but was finally turned away for good when Vice President Lyndon Johnson added his response to a memo outlining the situation and the women's impressive qualifications: "Let's stop this. Now."
At the time, Cobb had already flown 64 types of aircraft, including a jet fighter. She had set records for speed, distance and absolute altitude.
After retiring from NASA[citation needed], Cobb began missionary work in South America, performing humanitarian flying and surveying new air routes to remote areas.
She has recently been the subject of a National Organization for Women campaign to send her to space (like Senator John Glenn) to investigate the effects of aging on women.
She has received numerous honors, including the Harmon Trophy.
[edit] Awards
- Amelia Earhart Gold Medal of Achievement
- Named Woman of the Year in Aviation
- Amelia Earhart Memorial Award
- Named Pilot of the Year by the National Pilots Association
- Fourth American to be awarded Gold Wings of the Federacion Aeronautique International, Paris, France
- Named Captain of Achievement by International Academy of Achievement
- Served five years as a consultant to the Federal Aviation Administration
- Appointed consultant to NASA
- Honored by the government of Ecuador for pioneering new air routes over the Andes Mountains and Andes jungle
- Awarded Harmon International Trophy for "The Worlds Best Woman Pilot" by President Nixon at a White House ceremony
- Inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame as "the Most Outstanding Aviatrix in the US
- Received Pioneer Woman Award for her "courageous frontier spirit" flying all over the Amazon jungle serving primitive Indian tribes
- Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize
[edit] Notes
↑ Ackmann, Martha, The Mercury 13.
[edit] References
Ackmann, Martha (2003). The Mercury 13: The Untold Story of Thirteen American Women and the Dream of Space Flight. ISBN 0-375-50744-2.
