In 1961, a pair of NASA scientists secretly tested a group of female pilots in the hopes of making them part of the Mercury astronaut program. Their final candidates' list included Jean Hixson - an Akron schoolteacher and World War II pilot. But when NASA leadership and Congress learned of the undercover effort, they shut the program down and sent the women home.\nwww.ohiomysteries.com\nfeedback@ohiomysteries.com\nwww.patreon.com/ohiomysteries\nwww.twitter.com/mysteriesohio\nwww.facebook.com/ohiomysteries\nAudionautix- The Great Unknown\nThe Great Phospher- Daniel Birch\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices