As seen in the major Netflix documentary 'Mercury 13'

A Daily Mail Book of the Week

In 1961, Wally Funk was the youngest of thirteen American female pilots in the Woman in Space programme. Her mission was to become one of the first women astronauts. But a combination of politics and prejudice meant the programme was abruptly cancelled. Neither Wally nor the other pilots ever made it into space.

Now approaching eighty, Wally is joined by fellow space enthusiast Sue Nelson as she races to make her giant leap before it's too late. They travel across the United States and Europe — taking in NASA's mission control in Houston and Spaceport America in New Mexico, where Wally's ride into space awaits — meeting with female astronauts and trailblazers along the way. Touching on the Space Race and women's achievements in aviation, this is the remarkable story of a courageous pioneer who could have been the first woman in space.

Sue Nelson

Books