[Ace's Dad]

Yeager was not selected by NASA because he did not have a college degree. According to "The Right Stuff," there were a lot of test pilots who had zero interest in NASA because they wanted to fly, not just be "spam in a can." Perhaps that was sour grapes, I don't know.

I'm glad you wrote that last observation. General Yeager also reportedly had an abrasive personality. As do many in aviation (including this writer).

Neil Armstrong, along with Bob Hoover, is regarded as one of the very best "engineering test pilots." He may have been the best pilot with the best education, ever. That's not just my opinion.

[Steely Tom]

I'm glad you wrote that last observation. General Yeager also reportedly had an abrasive personality. As do many in aviation (including this writer).

Yeah, they knew the astronauts would all be public figures by default, and they didn't want someone who might haul off and tell Charles Collingwood or Frank Reynolds to f off on live TV.