Fighting for Space

Two Pilots and Their Historic Battle for Female Spaceflight

By: Amy Shira Teitel

Narrated by: Amy Shira Teitel

Spaceflight historian Amy Shira Teitel tells the riveting story of the female pilots who each dreamed of being the first American woman in space.

When the space age dawned in the late 1950s, Jackie Cochran held more propeller and jet flying records than any pilot of the twentieth century—man or woman. She had led the Women's Auxiliary Service Pilots during the Second World War, was the first woman to break the sound barrier, ran her own luxury cosmetics company, and counted multiple presidents among her personal friends. She was more qualified than any woman in the world to make the leap from atmosphere to orbit. Yet it was Jerrie Cobb, twenty-five years Jackie's junior and a record-holding pilot in her own right, who finagled her way into taking the same medical tests as the Mercury astronauts. The prospect of flying in space quickly became her obsession.

While the American and international media spun the shocking story of a "woman astronaut" program, Jackie and Jerrie struggled to gain control of the narrative, each hoping to turn the rumored program into their own ideal reality—an issue that ultimately went all the way to Congress.

This dual biography of audacious trailblazers Jackie Cochran and Jerrie Cobb presents these fascinating and fearless women in all their glory and grit, using their stories as guides through the shifting social, political, and technical landscape of the time.

Critic reviews

"In this smart, fun, compelling, and deeply researched book, Teitel tells the tale of Jackie Cochran and Jerrie Cobb, who scrapped with each other and, more important, with a blinkered, male-dominated space agency, for their chance to be among the first humans to leave the planet. It's a story of ambition, talent, gender equality, and of a media frenzy that seems more twenty-first century than 1950s. Teitel's prose is as infectious as the space-history videos that have made her a YouTube sensation, and she has picked a story that must have been a delight to write. It's certainly a delight to read."—Jeff Kluger, author of Apollo8 and coauthor of Apollo 13 with Jim Lovell

"History is often not as simple as it seems. In the case of Jackie Cochran and Jerrie Cobb, this book offers a revealing insight on two characters we thought we knew but didn't. From different generations and with profoundly different but equally dogged motivations, these two pilots crossed paths and fought battles in the new world of women pushing for a place in the air, and perhaps even in space. Amy Shira Teitel digs beneath the stories to reveal motivations that are not always as straightforward and admirable as other accounts suggest. A wealth of original research reminds us that people are complex, and sometimes it is those complexities that allow them to get as far as they do in the pursuit of enormous goals-or hold them back."—Francis French, author of In the Shadow of the Moon

"Spaceflight historian Teitel took a deep dive into a host of public records to craft this dual biography of Cochran and Cobb, creating a firm portrait of two driven and determined individuals."—Booklist

"Cleverly intertwines the stories of two women pilots...Teitel allows us to feel personally engaged with two fascinating characters who each made pretty quirky decisions...A remarkable story."—Medium

An insightful look into aviation history

Well researched and narrated. Provided a balanced perspective on the challenges of early aviation for women of that era.

Amy's Voice is the icing in the cake

Great listen. Hearing Amy narrate her own writing makes the story of these amazing woman that much more visceral.

Can't wait for another book (I hope).

Amazing story from History

this was a great story about passionate people chasing their dreams, the struggles they had, and the different approaches people took to try and make a difference in the world.

Great story that I never knew.

Amy does a fabulous job. Her research is amazing but her narration brings this story to life.

Brilliant!

A crucial piece of history, lovingly brought to life. Amy does a magnificent job both as writer and narrator.