Jerrie Cobb (b. 03-05-1931) pilot, was the first woman to qualify as an American astronaut and was the first astronaut rejected because she was a woman.

At 21 JC had become the only female international ferry pilot in the United States. As chief pilot, she flew over wild terrain and mountains, once being arrested as a spy after a forced landing in South America.

JC passed the same 87 physical and psychological tests administered by NASA in the selection of the original seven male astronauts. Several women, including Cobb, surpassed the test results of the men who were chosen (including John Glenn).

NASA officials admitted later in a Congressional investigation that they had no intentions of allowing women to pilot space craft.

JC is one of the four Americans to hold the Golden Wings of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale and was chosen 1959 pilot of the year by the National Pilot's association. She was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for her piloting of medical supplies into dangerous South American locations. Two of the other noted women pilots tested by NASA (and passed the tests) were Wally Funk and Bernice Steadman.

When John Glenn was selected as a senior citizen to return to space, many of Jerrie Cobb's friends and admirers campaigned to get her into space.

The efforts to honor Jerrie Cobb failed and Glenn went up and endangered the mission, a fact that was kept secret for a long time. NASA attempted to cover up Glenn's physical breakdown in space that almost caused an abort, amongst other things.