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Oklahoma Skies Built Space Pioneers
Oklahoma’s space story did not begin with rockets. It began with open skies, small towns, military airfields, good schools and young people who looked up and believed distance was something they could cross.
In this episode of Red Dirt and Round Bales, Dave Deken traces Oklahoma’s connection to NASA through Gordon Cooper, Tom Stafford, Fred Haise, Stuart Roosa, Owen Garriott, William Pogue, Shannon Lucid, John Herrington and Jerrie Cobb. From Mercury and Apollo to Skylab, Mir and the International Space Station, this episode shows how Oklahoma grit helped shape spaceflight — and how the state’s aerospace legacy still supports jobs, classrooms and rural dreams today.
Top 10 takeaways
Timestamped rundown
00:00:00 — Dave Deken opens the episode with a look at agriculture and rural life in Oklahoma.
00:00:13 — The episode frames Oklahoma’s open skies as an invitation to dream bigger.
00:00:47 — Gordon Cooper of Shawnee is introduced, including his early love of flight and Mercury Seven selection.
00:01:33 — Cooper’s Faith 7 mission is highlighted, including his hand-flown re-entry.
00:01:46 — Tom Stafford of Weatherford enters the story through Gemini, Apollo 10 and Apollo-Soyuz.
00:02:35 — Fred Haise’s Oklahoma ties and Apollo 13 survival story are covered.
00:03:06 — Stuart Roosa’s Apollo 14 role and the Moon Trees connect space exploration back to the land.
00:03:36 — Owen Garriott and William Pogue show Oklahoma’s role in Skylab science and long-duration spaceflight.
00:04:22 — Shannon Lucid’s Bethany and University of Oklahoma roots lead into her five NASA missions and Mir stay.
00:04:55 — John Herrington’s historic flight as a Chickasaw astronaut aboard Endeavour is featured.
00:05:22 — Jerrie Cobb’s story is included as part of the women who proved they were capable before NASA opened the door.
00:05:48 — The episode connects Oklahoma’s astronaut history to today’s aerospace jobs and education.
00:06:31 — The closing ties Oklahoma towns to the stars above.
00:06:50 — Listener call-to-action: visit the show website for the full story.
Red Dirt And Round Bales website
View all episodes
By Dave DekenOklahoma’s space story did not begin with rockets. It began with open skies, small towns, military airfields, good schools and young people who looked up and believed distance was something they could cross.
In this episode of Red Dirt and Round Bales, Dave Deken traces Oklahoma’s connection to NASA through Gordon Cooper, Tom Stafford, Fred Haise, Stuart Roosa, Owen Garriott, William Pogue, Shannon Lucid, John Herrington and Jerrie Cobb. From Mercury and Apollo to Skylab, Mir and the International Space Station, this episode shows how Oklahoma grit helped shape spaceflight — and how the state’s aerospace legacy still supports jobs, classrooms and rural dreams today.
Top 10 takeaways
Timestamped rundown
00:00:00 — Dave Deken opens the episode with a look at agriculture and rural life in Oklahoma.
00:00:13 — The episode frames Oklahoma’s open skies as an invitation to dream bigger.
00:00:47 — Gordon Cooper of Shawnee is introduced, including his early love of flight and Mercury Seven selection.
00:01:33 — Cooper’s Faith 7 mission is highlighted, including his hand-flown re-entry.
00:01:46 — Tom Stafford of Weatherford enters the story through Gemini, Apollo 10 and Apollo-Soyuz.
00:02:35 — Fred Haise’s Oklahoma ties and Apollo 13 survival story are covered.
00:03:06 — Stuart Roosa’s Apollo 14 role and the Moon Trees connect space exploration back to the land.
00:03:36 — Owen Garriott and William Pogue show Oklahoma’s role in Skylab science and long-duration spaceflight.
00:04:22 — Shannon Lucid’s Bethany and University of Oklahoma roots lead into her five NASA missions and Mir stay.
00:04:55 — John Herrington’s historic flight as a Chickasaw astronaut aboard Endeavour is featured.
00:05:22 — Jerrie Cobb’s story is included as part of the women who proved they were capable before NASA opened the door.
00:05:48 — The episode connects Oklahoma’s astronaut history to today’s aerospace jobs and education.
00:06:31 — The closing ties Oklahoma towns to the stars above.
00:06:50 — Listener call-to-action: visit the show website for the full story.
Red Dirt And Round Bales website