MovieChat Forums > Space Cowboys (2000) Discussion > Earlier Rejection from NASA.

Earlier Rejection from NASA.

posted 17 years ago by TorontoJediMaster
3 replies | jump to latest

At the start of the film, it's shown that when the civilian NASA agency was formed, Colvin and his buddies were "replaced" by chimps for the first space missions.

What I don't get is why they just didn't do why they just didn't apply to become astronauts themselves later on? The original seven astronauts from the Mercury program were all selected from a cadre of military test pilots. If they didn't make that selection, they could have applied for the astronauts classes in 1962, 1963 or 1966.

The film makes it look that as soon as NASA was formed, they somehow didn't qualify. They were all experienced military test pilots with the requisite college degrees. One or more of them would surely have been accepted by NASA.

[–] voyager78906 17 years ago

if you watch the dvd extras then you get the full jay leno thing and they mention that they were considered too old even in the 50's

[–] bikebryan 17 years ago

1. They had a history of recklessness. Yes, test pilots are flying aircrat that sometimes crash and burn, but the movie sets the tone that these two guys do it quite a bit more than the NORM.

2. They have a history of clashing with the boss. Notice he moves over to NASA; do you really think he would let them in if he has any say in the matter?

[–] Etherdave 11 years ago

Since the X-2B is SOO top secret that we still know nothing about it today, I assumed Gershon dreamed the program up just to get rid of the two troublesome pilots, before NASA had a chance to consider them. I just assumed.