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Overheard at National Geographic

Playback: The Glass Stratosphere

Overheard at National Geographic

National Geographic

Science, Society & Culture

4.510.1K Ratings

🗓️ 20 July 2021

⏱️ 25 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

As billionaires Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson lead the charge for a new commercial space race, we revisit an episode from our archives: What if women had been among the first to head to the moon? A NASA physician thought that wasn't such a far-fetched idea back in the 1960s. He developed the physical and psychological tests used to select NASA's first male astronauts. We'll investigate what happened to his program and what the women who were involved had to say. For more information about this episode, visit natgeo.com/overheard Want more? Private companies Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin are reaching the Earth’s edge. Find out what that means for the future of space tourism. Also, read more about why the ultrarich itch for space—and why scratching that itch helps keep crewed space exploration alive. Where is the edge of space anyway? The answer depends on who you ask. Also explore: Since the first humans went to space 60 years ago, we’ve learned a lot about what it takes to leave Earth. Here’s how the “right stuff” has changed since then. And for subscribers:
 See why some scientists think women are better suited to spaceflight than men. If you like what you hear and want to support more content like this, please consider a National Geographic subscription. Go to natgeo.com/exploremore to subscribe today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hey, everyone.

0:02.5

One of the big stories dominating the headlines right now is the new space race.

0:06.7

Billionaires Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson are set to lead the charge for space tourism

0:11.6

flying to the edge of the atmosphere in their privately funded rockets.

0:15.4

So we thought we'd revisit one of our favorite overheard episodes.

0:18.9

It's about a NASA scientist who tested a group of female pilots and pushed for them to

0:23.5

join the first astronaut program.

0:26.4

Sadly, one of those pioneering women, Sarah Ratley, passed away several months after our

0:31.2

episode aired.

0:33.2

Meanwhile, Wally Funk, who was also featured in our episode, will join Jeff Bezos on his

0:38.6

flight.

0:39.6

So six decades later, her space dream is finally coming true.

0:43.9

And it will put her in the record books, surpassing John Glenn as the oldest person to fly

0:48.2

into space.

0:50.2

I'm 85 years old.

0:52.7

85 years old.

0:54.5

Young correction, I'm 85 years young.

1:01.2

So are you still fly?

1:02.6

Are you still piloting planes?

1:04.2

Yes, I fly with a friend of mine very often now and I'm all used to all the newest equipment.

1:11.0

When I look at now and see a beautiful blue sky, I want to be up there.

1:17.2

Sarah Ratley has spent a lot of her life pointed in one direction up.

...

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