Whilst attitudes have changed a little since the 1960s and 70s, the names of Sally Ride, Judy Resnik, Anna Fisher, Kathy Sullivan, Shannon Lucid, and Rhea Seddon should never be underestimated when it comes to the plight of women’s rights. The United States’ arch mid-century rivals in the field of space exploration, Russia, had selected a female cosmonaut, one Valentina Tereshkova, for a mission to orbit Earth in 1963, towards the end of the following decade NASA still held an archaic stance on women going into space.
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When they did eventually relent, a vigorous 1977 ad campaign spearheaded by Nichelle Nichols – best known as Star Trek’s communications officer Lieutenant Uhura – ignited the imagination of the women who would become ‘The Six’. As this eponymous book concerning them, their achievements and the attendant culture outlines, they were met with a wave of sexism. Nevertheless, this pioneering American sextet embarked on training programmes to prepare themselves for orbit, with Sally Ride the first to launch in June 1983.
For the first time journalist Loren Grush – Bloomberg’s premiere space and science reporter – has assembled the full warts-and-all story, and The Six makes for a fascinating look behind the curtain at NASA during what turned out to be a pivotal period in its history.
The Six: The Untold Story Of America’s First Women In Space, Loren Grush (Virago)
Price: £25. Info: here
words CHRIS ANDREWS