Women would-be astronauts to get honorary doctorates (CNN)

[eppur_se_muova]

OSHKOSH, Wisconsin (AP) -- More than 40 years ago, 13 young American women came close to venturing into space, but their dreams were dashed just days before they were to have started spaceflight simulation tests.

Now, officials of the University of Wisconsin, at Oshkosh, hope they can soothe the women's burning what-ifs by awarding each an honorary doctorate at graduation ceremonies on Saturday.

"Isn't that neat?" said Jerri Truhill, one of the thwarted pioneers. "We're not used to that. We're just used to rejection."

The 13, who trained in secret in the early 1960s, were told NASA was not interested in their training, just days before the group was to leave for spaceflight simulation tests in Pensacola, Florida.

Simply by being pilots, the women bucked a culture that expected women to cook, change diapers and look pretty. The 13 pushed it further, enduring -- and passing -- the same tests as the better-known "Mercury 7" men, suffering through sensory deprivation and tests gauging how long they could keep body parts submerged in near-freezing water.
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more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/05/07/women.in.space.ap/index.html

book rec: http://www.amazon.com/Mercury-13-Story-Thirteen-Flight/dp/0375758933/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-1606085-2925439?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178662185&sr=1-1 http://g-ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/51F6CW895HL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU01_AA240_SH20_.jpg

[Matariki]

1. cool. thanks for posting this. n/t