Preview
  • Wally Funk's Race for Space

  • The Extraordinary Story of a Female Aviation Pioneer
  • By: Sue Nelson
  • Narrated by: Sue Nelson
  • Length: 9 hrs and 5 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (11 ratings)

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Wally Funk's Race for Space

By: Sue Nelson
Narrated by: Sue Nelson
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Publisher's summary

In 1961, Wally Funk was among the Mercury 13, the first group of American pilots to pass the ‘Women in Space’ programme. Wally sailed through a series of rigorous physical and mental tests, her scores beating many of the male candidates, including those of John Glenn, the first American in orbit. But just one week before she was due to enter the final phase of training, the programme was abruptly cancelled. A combination of politics and prejudice meant that none of the women ever flew into space. Undeterred, Wally went on to become one of America’s first female aviation inspectors and civilian flight instructors, though her dream of being an astronaut never dimmed.

In this offbeat odyssey, journalist and fellow space buff Sue Nelson travels with Wally, now approaching her 80th birthday, as she races to make her giant leap - before it’s too late. Covering their travels across the United States and Europe - taking in NASA’s mission control in Houston and Spaceport America in New Mexico, where Wally’s ride to space awaits - this is a uniquely intimate and entertaining portrait of a true aviation trailblazer.

©2018 Sue Nelson (P)2018 Audible, Ltd
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Incredible and inspiring

If you’re looking for some motivation...this is a must read! I loved every minute of this book. Being a female in the men’s working world myself I appreciate women like Wally because if it was not for her and other women who paved the way, I would not be in the job I am today in the military. I am also a lover of aviation with my husband. (He even enjoyed listening too!) Being raised in it because of my dad it brings more appreciation of the aviation history and space history as well. I imagine that when I am Wally’s age... I will most likely have the same enthusiastic “glass is half full” look on life. This is incredibly inspiring to me also because of the challenges we face and to never give up on your dreams... Wally doesn’t give up!

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