Author
|
Topic: 'Mercury 13' Janet Dietrich (1926-2008)
|
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 06-18-2008 06:05 PM
San Francisco Chronicle: Bay Area pilot Janet Christine Dietrich dies At the dawn of the space race in the early 1960s, Bay Area pilot Janet Christine Dietrich was one of 13 women who underwent secret astronaut testing, passing the same rigorous physical and psychological assessments as the men who became immortalized as America's first astronauts.It was a venture financed by noted aviator Jacqueline Cochran, and though the women never did reach the stars, the group later known as the Mercury 13 helped lay the groundwork for a future generation of female space travelers. "She would've dearly loved to have been in space," said Miss Dietrich's niece, Linda McKenzie. "That was the ultimate." Miss Dietrich died June 5 of natural causes in a San Francisco convalescent hospital, her family said. She was 81. Over a 34-year aviation career, Miss Dietrich accumulated more than 12,000 hours in the pilot seat, winning prizes and setting records along the way. |
Delta7 Member Posts: 1505 From: Bluffton IN USA Registered: Oct 2007
|
posted 06-18-2008 06:32 PM
. |
ea757grrl Member Posts: 729 From: South Carolina Registered: Jul 2006
|
posted 06-18-2008 10:41 PM
Every woman who reaches for the stars -- and those of us who dream of it -- will forever be indebted to her. Rest in peace.jodie |
FFrench Member Posts: 3161 From: San Diego Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 06-18-2008 11:12 PM
Jan had been in a nursing home for the best part of a decade, and although her eyesight no longer allowed her to read the many letters she received, nor could she recall many events in her life, she did enjoy hearing from many aviation enthusiasts over the decades, "particularly so many gentlemen"... As one of the twins chosen by Dr. Lovelace for his tests, Jan's photo was used a lot in media, and appears on the front of both Martha Ackmann and Stephanie Nolen's books about the 13. A most impressive aviation career with a number of important firsts. . |
bruce Member Posts: 916 From: Fort Mill, SC, USA Registered: Aug 2000
|
posted 06-19-2008 04:48 AM
. |
NavySpaceFan Member Posts: 655 From: Norfolk, VA Registered: May 2007
|
posted 06-19-2008 07:45 AM
. |
KSCartist Member Posts: 2896 From: Titusville, FL USA Registered: Feb 2005
|
posted 06-19-2008 09:17 AM
She finally has the view she dreamed about all those years ago.Godspeed Ms. Dietrich. Tim |
cddfspace Member Posts: 609 From: Morris County, NJ, USA Registered: Jan 2006
|
posted 06-19-2008 09:51 AM
. |
SPACEFACTS Member Posts: 301 From: Germany Registered: Aug 2006
|
posted 06-19-2008 09:58 AM
. |
randy Member Posts: 2176 From: West Jordan, Utah USA Registered: Dec 1999
|
posted 06-20-2008 12:30 AM
. |
ColinBurgess Member Posts: 2031 From: Sydney, Australia Registered: Sep 2003
|
posted 06-20-2008 04:16 AM
. |
dss65 Member Posts: 1156 From: Sandpoint, ID, USA Registered: Mar 2003
|
posted 06-20-2008 11:24 AM
. |
ejectr Member Posts: 1751 From: Killingly, CT Registered: Mar 2002
|
posted 06-20-2008 03:24 PM
. |
Moonwalker1954 Member Posts: 245 From: Montreal, Canada Registered: Jul 2004
|
posted 06-21-2008 10:36 AM
. |
eurospace Member Posts: 2610 From: Brussels, Belgium Registered: Dec 2000
|
posted 06-21-2008 04:06 PM
. |
Henk Boshuijer Member Posts: 450 From: Netherlands Registered: May 2007
|
posted 06-21-2008 04:56 PM
. |
paul prendergast Member Posts: 429 From: crawley west sussex UK Registered: Apr 2004
|
posted 06-22-2008 06:45 AM
. |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
|
posted 06-22-2008 08:48 AM
. |
Lou Chinal Member Posts: 1306 From: Staten Island, NY Registered: Jun 2007
|
posted 06-25-2008 01:44 PM
. |
Wehaveliftoff Member Posts: 2343 From: Registered: Aug 2001
|
posted 06-25-2008 02:08 PM
How many Mercury 13 are still here with us? |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 06-25-2008 02:12 PM
According to SpaceFacts, three have passed away: Marion and Jan Dietrich as well as Jean Hixson. |
Paul78zephyr Member Posts: 675 From: Hudson, MA Registered: Jul 2005
|
posted 06-25-2008 08:47 PM
. |
astro-nut Member Posts: 946 From: Washington, IL Registered: Jan 2006
|
posted 06-29-2008 07:27 AM
. |