WOMAN INTO SPACE

Jerrie Cobb is 32, 5 foot seven, and very fit, and many people are already a little familiar with her defense of women's rights and her own dream of taking part in the manned space program. A shy youngster, Jerrie learned to fly at 12- still in pigtails, grew up with only one real interest- to be a pilot, which she is, and for years she flew commercially, raced, set records. She also fell in love- with another pilot whom she never quite grounded. Finally she reported to Albuquerque for the Mercury astronaut physical tests and for service in this program. The advantages? women weigh less, and for once, we could outstrip Russia. Further tests for the Navy, for which other women volunteers qualified, were followed by the abrupt cancellation of all further testing which a Congress hearing did not reverse. But she is still hopeful, and now looking for direct reader support here.... A story which zeroes in on a good deal of newspaper and magazine publicity, which doesn't necessarily ensure a carry-over in book form.