[angkor]

I'm curious just how deep his research went into these archives when he wrote these texts.

If I recall, Wolfe actually traveled with the Acid Test on Kesey's bus for a while.

As for The Right Stuff, my equally befogged (1st Sunday coffee) memory is that he spent a lot of time with Chuck Yager, the lens through whom the novel is actually focused.

The "status" comment is funny, because it's much clearer in the novel than in the movie that Yager - the lowly test pilot who broke the sound barrier - remains most expressive of the Code Of The Right Stuff, even as the astronauts gain in popular celebrity.

[wintertime]

remains most expressive of the Code Of The Right Stuff, even as the astronauts gain in popular celebrity
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Spot on! Excellent analysis.