Mercury 13

Description

When Dr. Sally Ride lifted off in the Challenger, the first American woman in space was riding on the shoulders of a group of pioneering women whose little-known story finally gets its due in this passionate and rousing documentary. These proud pilots were selected for rigorous testing and often fared better than their male counterparts, but were ultimately shut out of the NASA program. Through spirited interviews and revealing archival footage, the film allows these thwarted but amazing aviators to inspire anew.

At a time when stories of women’s career obstructions are being unearthed by the #MeToo movement, this documentary is a thrilling addition to calls for historical reckoning as well as a major shot in the arm for the next generation of girls excited about STEM learning. As with last year’s Hidden Figures heroines (the African-American women mathematicians of 1960s NASA), moxie abounds. Janey Hart, for one, was a mother of eight who, at forty years old, worked her way through the rigorous physical tests, learning only later that NASA found a “reason” that women couldn’t journey into space – they needed experience flying jets but weren’t actually allowed to fly them! Is it any surprise that Hart would put some of her efforts back into political organizing on the ground? As a founding member, Hart later helped the fledgling National Organization for Women take flight.

Film Details