Fighting for Space

by Amy Shira Teitel

  Swanson, Glen E. ed. Before this Decade Is Out: Personal Reflections on the Apollo Program. Mineola, New York: Dover Publications, 2012.

  Levine, Arnold S. Managing NASA in the Apollo Era. NASA SP-4102. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC, 1982. Accessed August 19, 2019. https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4102.pdf.

  Remarks by James E. Webb, Administrator. First National Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Space. Tulsa, Oklahoma. May 26, 1961. Cobb, Jerrie Folders. NASA Archives.

  Chapter 19

  Cobb, Jerrie. Untitled recommendations to NASA. June 15, 1961. Cobb, Jerrie #2. NASA Archives.

  Ackmann, Mercury 13: The True Story of Thirteen Women and the Dream of Space Flight.

  Letter, Floyd Odlum to Randy Lovelace. May 31, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 139. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Jerrie Cobb to Jacqueline Cochran (handwritten, Hotel to Crillon). Undated (May 29, 1961). Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 185. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Secretary (Jacqueline Cochran’s) to Jerrie Cobb. May 31, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 185. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Jerrie Cobb to Jacqueline Cochran (handwritten, Hotel to Crillon). Undated (June 1, 1961). Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 185. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Randy Lovelace to Floyd Odlum. June 8, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 139. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Beeson, Lovelace, et al. to Abraham Hyatt. “Life Sciences Program Leading to Manned Landing on the Moon.” May 31, 1961. Lovelace, Dr. W. Randolph Folder. NASA Archives.

  Letter to Randy Lovelace. June 16, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 139. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Weitekamp, Right Stuff Wrong Sex: America’s First Woman in Space Program.

  Letter to Randy Lovelace. June 16, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 139. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Author correspondence with Francis French. August 10, 2019.

  Author interview with Gene Nora Jessen née Stumbough and Sarah Ratley. June 2017.

  Letter, Randy Lovelace to Wally Funk. July 8, 1961. Courtesy of Francis French.

  Letter, Randy Lovelace to Jacqueline Cochran. July 12, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter from Randy Lovelace (form letter). July 8, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  “Letter Randy is sending out to the women.” Undated. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Randy Lovelace to Wally Funk. July 12, 1961. Courtesy of Francis French.

  Letter, Jacqueline Cochran to Wally Funk. July 12, 1961. Courtesy of Francis French.

  Letter, Jacqueline Cochran to Myrtle Thompson Cagle. July 12, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Floyd Odlum to Randy Lovelace. July 19, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Jacqueline Cochran to Jerrie Cobb. July 10, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Jacqueline Cochran to Marion Dietrich. July 12, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Jessen, Gene Nora. The Fabulous Flight of the Three Musketeers. 1st Books. 2009.

  Letter, Wally Funk to Jacqueline Cochran. July 19, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Sarah Lee Gorelick to Jacqueline Cochran. July 20, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Steadman, Tethered Mercury: A Pilot’s Memoir the Right Stuff…but the Wrong Sex.

  Author email correspondence with Al Hallonquist.

  “Mercury-Redstone 4.” NASA, accessed August 12, 2019. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mercury/missions/libertybell7.html.

  Author interview with Gene Nora Jessen. March 28, 2019.

  Author correspondence with Francis French. August 10, 2019.

  Swanson, ed. Before this Decade Is Out: Personal Reflections on the Apollo Program.

  Brooks, Grimwood, and Swenson. Chariots for Apollo: The NASA History of Manned Lunar Spacecraft to 1969. Mineola, New York: Dover Publications, 2009.

  Letter, “Personal and Confidential Memorandum.” Jacqueline Cochran to Robert Pirie. August 1, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 138. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Cobb and Rieker, Woman into Space: The Jerrie Cobb Story.

  Letter, Jerrie Cobb to Wally Funk. July 24, 1961. Courtesy of Francis French.

  Shurley, Jay. “Assessment of Women Astronaut’s Performance in Sensory Deprivation.” August 8, 1961. Courtesy of Francis French.

  Letter, Hugh Dryden to Robert Pirie. October 2, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 138. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, James Webb to Lyndon Johnson. August 23, 1961. Vice President, 1961–1963. Box 116. The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library.

  Memorandum to the Vice President from E. C. Welsh. “Summary Report on Space Council Activities.” July 28, 1961. Vice President, 1961–1963. Box 117. The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library.

  Letter, Glenn Dawn to Lyndon Johnson. July 23, 1961. Vice President, 1961–1963. Box 116. The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library.

  Letter, Ruben R. Nuñez to Lyndon Johnson. September 5, 1961. Vice President, 1961–1963. Box 116. The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library.

  Letter, Marjory Hopkins to LBJ. August 27, 1961. Vice President, 1961–1963. Box 116. The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library.

  Letter, Wally Funk to Randy Lovelace. May 31, 1961. Courtesy of Francis French.

  Memo to Phillip Slood(?) re: Summer Employees (Jerrie Cobb). June 30, 1962. Cobb, Jerrie #1. NASA Archives.

  Letter, Jacqueline Cochran to Randy Lovelace. September 1, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Randy Lovelace to Jacqueline Cochran. September 11, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Randy Lovelace to Jacqueline Cochran. August 23, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Randy Lovelace to Myrtle Thompson Cagle. August 21, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Randy Lovelace to Jan Dietrich. August 21, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Randy Lovelace to Marion Dietrich. August 21, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Randy Lovelace to Wally Funk. August 21, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Randy Lovelace to Sarah Lee Gorelick. August 21, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Randy Lovelace to Janey Hart. August 21, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Randy Lovelace to Jean Hixson. August 21, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential L
ibrary.

  Letter, Randy Lovelace to Rhea Hurrle. August 21, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Randy Lovelace to Irene Leverton. August 23, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Randy Lovelace to Bernice Steadman. August 21, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Randy Lovelace to Gene Nora Steadman. August 21, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Glenn, John Glenn: A Memoir.

  Dietrich, Marion. “First Woman into Space.” McCall’s, September 1961.

  Cox, Donald. “Women Astronauts.” Space World, vol 1 no 10. September 1961. Cobb, Jerrie #2. NASA Archives.

  Chapter 20

  Telegram, Randy Lovelace to Wally Funk. September 12, 1961. Courtesy of Francis French.

  Telegram, Jeanne Williams to Jaqueline Cochran. September 12, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Cobb and Rieker, Woman into Space: The Jerrie Cobb Story.

  Letter, Hugh Dryden to Robert Pirie. October 2, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 138. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Robert Pirie to Jacqueline Cochran. October 9, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 138. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Jacqueline Cochran to Patricia Meholic. February 15, 1962. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 139. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Patricia Meholic to Jacqueline Cochran. November 7, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 139. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Stanley Marshall to Jacqueline Cochran. October 25, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 139. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Jacqueline Cochran to June Moyer. August 10, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 139. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, June Moyer to Jacqueline Cochran. July 25, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 139. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Jacqueline Cochran to Paula Sue Campbell. June 6, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 139. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Paula Sue Campbell to Jacqueline Cochran. May 2, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 139. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Jacqueline Cochran to Sandra Massaro. June 6, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 139. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Sandra Massaro to Jacqueline Cochran. May 10, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 139. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Jacqueline Cochran to Alicia McFadden. February 13, 1962. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 139. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Alicia McFadden to Jacqueline Cochran. December 30, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 139. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Jacqueline Cochran to Alicia McFadden. June 6, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 139. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Alicia McFadden to Jacqueline Cochran. May 2, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 139. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Jacqueline Cochran to Sue Udell. June 1, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 139. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Sue Udell to Jacqueline Cochran. April 30, 1960. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 139. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Jacqueline Cochran to Sophia M. Payton. October 9, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 139. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Sophia M. Payton to Jacqueline Cochran. incl. Aviation Background. September 24, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 139. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Floyd Odlum to Randy Lovelace. November 17, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 139. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Randy Lovelace to James Webb. September 29, 1961. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Bizony, The Man Who Ran the Moon: James E. Webb, NASA, and the Secret History of Project Apollo.

  Glenn, John Glenn: A Memoir.

  Memo, John F. Kennedy to Lyndon Johnson. February 21, 1962. White House Famous Names, Service Set Box 6. The Lyndon B. Johnson Library.

  Memorandum for the Administrator, Deputy Administrator, Associate Administrator. Subject: MA-6 Contingencies from O. B. Lloyd, Jr. January 16, 1962. Vice Presidential Aide’s Files of George Reedy. Box 12. The Lyndon B. Johnson Library.

  Ackmann, Mercury 13: The True Story of Thirteen Women and the Dream of Space Flight.

  Letter, Jerrie Cobb to Jacqueline Cochran. March 8, 1962. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 139. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Jerrie Cobb to Floyd Odlum. March 8, 1962. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 139. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  Letter, Floyd Odlum to Randy Lovelace. March 29, 1962. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 139. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

  “The Friendship 7 Mission: A Major Achievement and a Sign of More to Come.” NASA, accessed September 20, 2018. https://history.nasa.gov/friendship7/.

  Memorandum, George Reedy to the Vice President. February 21, 1962. Vice Presidential Aide’s Files of George Reedy. Box 12. The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library.

  “Space for Women?” presented by Jerrie Cobb, First Women’s Space Symposium. February 22, 1962. Los Angeles, CA. Vice President, 1961–1963. Box 183. The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library.

  “Address by Dr. Edward C. Welsh, Prepared for Delivery Before the Women’s Space Symposium, Los Angeles, California, Thursday, February 22, 1962.” February 23, 1962. Vice President, 1961–1963. Box 183. The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library.

  “Could Put Women in Space Now.” UPI, Los Angeles. February 25, 1962. NASA Archives.

  “Transcript of Senator Keating’s Interview of Mr. Webb for Senator’s Radio and TV Program.” Undated (March 6, 1962). LBJ Library. VP Aide’s Files of George Reedy. Space [March 9, 1962] [Statements on the Space Program] [1 of 2] The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library.

  “NASA to Select Additional Astronauts.” March 21, 1962. VP Aide’s Files of George Reedy. Space [March 9, 1962] [Statements on the Space Program] [1 of 2] The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library.

  Memorandum to the Vice President. Subject: Space Council Meeting. July 5, 1962. Vice President, 1961–1963. Box 183. The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library.

  “Memorandum for the Chairman of National Aeronautics and Space Council.” March 13, 1962. VP Aide’s Files of George Reedy. Space [March 9, 1962] [Statements on the Space Program] [1 of 2] The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library.

  Letter, Lyndon Johnson to John F. Kennedy. March 23, 1962. VP Aide’s Files of George Reedy. Space [March 9, 1962] [Statements on the Space Program] [1 of 2] The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library.

  Memo from Welsh to Lyndon Johnson. March 14, 1962. Papers of Lyndon B. Johnson. Vice President, 1961–1963. Box 183. The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library.

  “Request for Highest National Priority for the Apollo Program.” March 13, 1962. Vice President, 1961–1963. Box 183. The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library.

  Nat
ional Security Action Memorandum No. 144. April 11, 1962. VP Aide’s Files of George Reedy. Space [March 9, 1962] [Statements on the Space Program] [1 of 2] The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library.

  Letter, James Webb to John F. Kennedy. March 13, 1962. Vice President, 1961–1963. Box 183. The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library.

  Memorandum for the Honorable Robert S. McNamara, Secretary of Defense. March 23, 1962. Vice President, 1961–1963. Box 183. The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library.

  Memorandum, E. C. Welsh to Mr. Hale, Subject: US—Soviet Cooperation in Space. March 3, 1962. Vice Presidential Aide’s Files of George Reedy. Box 12. The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library.

  Letter, John F. Kennedy to Sergei Khrushchev. March 7, 1962. VP Aide’s Files of George Reedy. Space [March 9, 1962] [Statements on the Space Program] [1 of 2] The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library.

  Memorandum, E. C. Welsh to Vice President (LBJ). March 19, 1962. VP Aide’s Files of George Reedy. Space [March 9, 1962] [Statements on the Space Program] [1 of 2] The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library.

  “Clinical Record of Donald K. Slayton,” from Lawrence E. Lamb, MD. Undated. Vice President, 1961–1963. Box 183. The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library.

  “Carpenter Replaces Slayton as MA 7 Pilot.” March 21, 1962. VP Aide’s Files of George Reedy. Space [March 9, 1962] [Statements on the Space Program] [1 of 2] The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library.

  Letter, Lawrence E. Lamb to Brigadier General Charles Roadman. March 5, 1962. Vice Presidential Aide’s Files of George Reedy. Box 12. The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library.

  Steadman, Tethered Mercury: A Pilot’s Memoir the Right Stuff…but the Wrong Sex.

  Invitation to Senator Hart reception, circa 1958. LBJA Congressional File. Box 45. The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library.

  Telegram, Lyndon Johnson to Senator Hart. November 5, 1958. LBJA Congressional File. Box 45. The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library.

  Letter, Lyndon Johnson to Governor Hart. November 14, 1958. LBJA Congressional File. Box 45. The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library.