The Right Stuff Summary

The United States underwent a massive technological development during the 1940’s through the 1960’s. Yet, the most significant part of this technological development was the military aviation and the aerospace programs. Why was the US so interested in the creation of the aerospace program? What was the political and social motivations behind the space exploration? Who made the moon landing possible? Tom Wolfe gave in his book “The Right Stuff” a clear answers and explanation to these questions. Not only that Tom Wolf puts the life of American heroes on the spot light. He informed us about the exceptional skills and strengths of the heroes who made the impossible possible, the heroes who put their lives in the line to achieve exceptional

goals, the heroes who shaped the aerospace history, the heroes who pushed the science of flight beyond the limits.

Almost all of us know the first man land on the moon. However, it did not happen suddenly or accidently. During that era–there was a space race between the US and the Soviet Union, people believed whoever got to space would be able to control the world, including U.S. officials who saw the advancement of the Soviet Union in the space race will create a major threat to the US. As a matter of facts, the US put a tremendous effort to win the race, especially after the USSR send the Sputnik to orbit the earth three times. It created an impermeable chock with a tremendous pressure to move forward and score points in the space race. As a result, the Mercury program was created to start the process of putting the first man on the space.
The book focused in the human factor involved in the military aviation and the aerospace program.

I learned how the beginning of technological development in the aviation programs was not safe and secure, as there were many accidents during jet testing and air force trainings. I learned about the pilots who put their life in the line to serve their country, passing through a rough training in a dense physical and mental conditions; just like when Chuck Yeager was performing his duties in the most critical conditions “Even though his side was throbbing and his right arm felt practically useless, Yeager figured he could grit his teeth and get through the flight" (42). Those pilots were having an incredible determination to do what needed to be done regardless of any situation and circumstance. Even when they knew their life is in danger in every minute and second, they just followed a clear path to serve their country and focus on the programs more than anything

else.
The media was covering intensely every event linked to the cold war.

The aerospace program gets a special coverage since it was the breaking point in the cold war. After the USSR launched the sputnik on 1957; US citizens and experts were in chock, the fear from losing the technology development race was in its pick. Moreover, the defeat of the US in Cuba in the Bay of Pigs ruined the American prestige and raises many questions about the ability of the US leaders to win the race. As a result, politician escalate the arm race and put more effort to catch up with the space race and restore faith of the people in the

government.
Finally, the book presented the ideal image about the space race and the life of American heroes. Yet, there were many topics needed to be covered to get the full image in the book. The first thing I notice was that the book did not include any foot note wish means that all what written was mainly the prescriptive of pilots they get interviewed and not a pure clear fact. Other thing the book includes only one side of the coin there was no coverage of the negative outcomes of the space and the aviation programs, like the chemicals that get released in the sea and the air after the testing and the explosions of the plains. Also, the book was mainly focused in the pilots and picture them as the one who made everything possible like there was no contribution from other people like designer, engineer, and scientist. Other thing I was bothered with is how the US was pictured as a white male with a family when we there was black, Asian, native American etc. are part of the US society it seems like the racism and the segregation was in all levels. In addition, the technological advancement was a pure political goal and nothing more, which may explain why politician involve in some certain decision about the aerospace program during that time while they are trying to reduce the fund for similar programs in nowadays. Finally, I can see there was many perspectives to take in consideration during that time that may made the book great to read rather than just making everything looks great.
In general, the book was a great source to read, I learned about the personality of the men who made the space exploration possible with a great determination to focus on their destination braving danger in every moment during their service. It was inspiring to learn about how “the right stuff” that made history and made the unattainable achievable. Yet, the author didn’t complete the image of what was going on during that era by including different point or discuss many issues that was tied up to the technology race. At the end I still have many unanswered questions. If there was no cold war during that time did the US will gave the same attention and funding to the aerospace program? And if the people were not scared a horrified did the seven astronauts will get glorified and became a public figure?