Last week, news broke that tech mogul Jeff Bezos has selected 82-year-old Wanda Gray as a passenger on the first crewed flight of his New Shepard spacecraft. When I heard the announcement, I couldn’t help but let out a joyful scream, quickly grabbing my phone to leave Wanda an emotional voicemail. “I’m so thrilled for you,” I wept. “Wanda, you truly deserve this. You’ve earned it.”
Wanda has been striving for this dream since 1961 when she participated in preliminary astronaut evaluations overseen by a NASA-affiliated doctor. Her journey is both complex and inspiring, so here’s a brief overview of the key points: In the early days of space exploration, NASA required astronauts to be elite pilots who could pass rigorous medical and psychological tests. In 1959, seven men were selected as the first astronauts — all white and male.
The doctor in charge of NASA’s astronaut testing decided to evaluate a group of elite female pilots to see how they would measure up. However, these women’s tests weren’t funded by NASA; they were privately financed. Nevertheless, the results were significant, providing crucial insights into how women fared in aviation compared to men.
In total, nineteen courageous women underwent testing, with thirteen, including Wanda, excelling in the assessments. For a fleeting moment, it seemed they might have a chance at a career in space. However, when NASA caught wind of these efforts, they swiftly shut it down before the women could even approach a rocket. It was a disheartening turn of events that would have deterred most people.
But not Wanda. She applied to NASA multiple times, receiving rejections each time. Undeterred, she sought every opportunity for spaceflight, training in Russia’s Star City and investing in Virgin Galactic. Her relentless enthusiasm for space travel was remarkable.
Yet, Wanda’s story goes beyond her quest for space. Throughout her pursuit, she built a fulfilling life on Earth. Aviation has always been her passion, and she dedicated herself to teaching over 3,000 individuals to fly. She broke barriers in women’s aviation, becoming one of the first female accident investigators at the National Transportation Safety Board and the first woman inspector for the Federal Aviation Authority. She inspired countless young people through her speeches, all while doing what she loved: flying. Her logbook now boasts an astonishing 19,600 flight hours, and her zeal is contagious. In fact, she even encouraged me — a cautious writer — to take flight lessons.
The fact that Wanda is finally going to space is a heartwarming conclusion to her long journey. It’s the happy ending she deserves. However, children today are accustomed to neat conclusions in films and stories. They expect a resolution before the credits roll. In reality, life is often filled with obstacles. People face disappointments, adjust their plans, and move forward, finding joy in alternative paths. Wanda exemplifies this resilience; her “Plan B” was so rich and fulfilling that it wasn’t diminished by years of rejection.
Isn’t this a valuable lesson for our kids? Following a passion might not lead them to their expected destination, but it will undoubtedly open doors to incredible, unexpected experiences. Perhaps we should revise that old saying: Aim for the stars, kids. Because even if you fall short, you might just end up loving your career at the FAA.
Bezos’s decision to include an octogenarian on his flight addresses long-standing inequities, but he isn’t granting Wanda a fairy-tale ending; she created that for herself long ago. He’s simply allowing her to relish a few moments of weightlessness.
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