Geraldyn “Jerrie” M. Cobb died Thursday at the age of 88. [credit: Cobb family collection ] Geraldyn “Jerrie” M. Cobb, a noted aviation pioneer and fierce advocate for women flying into space, died Thursday at her home in Florida, her family has said. She was 88. Cobb is perhaps most well known for her participation in what became known as the "Mercury 13," a group of 13 women who passed preliminary screening processes in 1960 and 1961 to determine their suitability as astronauts under the guidance of Dr.