In the early 1960s, a short-lived and privately funded program tested women for space. None of these women ever went into space, but their work blazed a trail for future female astronauts. All of the women were skilled airline pilots with commercial ratings. (Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space in 1963. Sally Ride was the first American woman in space in 1983.)

 

Pictured in this photo are (from left) are Gene Nora Jessen, Wally Funk, Jerrie Cobb, Jerri Truhill, Sarah Rutley, Myrtle Cagle and Bernice Steadman.