Ep 3. Single Combat Warrior

In the third episode of The Right Stuff's first season, entitled "Single Combat Warrior," tensions continue to rise between the seven Mercury astronauts as they prepare for the impending launch of the first American into space. With only one spot available for the inaugural flight, each astronaut is desperate to prove that they are the best candidate for the job.

In an effort to further test their abilities and weed out any weaker contenders, the astronauts are put through a rigorous series of physical and psychological evaluations. The competition becomes especially heated between two of the astronauts - John Glenn and Alan Shepard - who both believe that they are the most deserving candidate for the historic mission.

As the evaluations progress, the astronauts are forced to confront personal demons and past traumas in order to prove their worthiness. Glenn, in particular, finds himself at a crossroads as he struggles to reconcile his desire to be selected for the mission with his commitment to his family and his strong moral convictions.

Meanwhile, behind the scenes at NASA, tensions are also mounting as the agency's administrators grapple with the high stakes of the mission and the pressure to put America on the map in the ongoing Cold War. As they debate which astronaut to select for the mission, they must also navigate complex political dynamics and juggle the competing interests of various stakeholders.

With only one episode remaining before the launch, the pressure is on for the astronauts and NASA alike to make their final selections and prepare for the historic flight. As they face the challenges of new frontiers on both a personal and national level, each character must find the strength to rise to the occasion and prove themselves as a single combat warrior.