Archive for April 9th, 2024

FIRST ASTRONAUTS INTRODUCED IN 1959

   Mercury Seven Astronauts, during the April 9, 1959 news conference that introduced the Mercury ...  
    
    
    
    
    
    
   
On April 9, 1959, the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) introduced America’s first
astronauts to the press: Scott Carpenter, L. Gordon
Cooper Jr., John H. Glenn Jr., Virgil “Gus” Grissom,
Walter Schirra Jr., Alan Shepard Jr. and Donald Slayton.

The seven men, all military test pilots, were carefully
selected from a group of 32 candidates to take part in
Project Mercury, America’s first manned space program,
planned to begin orbital flights in 1961.         
    
    
    
    
    

    
  Mercury Seven Astronauts, during the April 9, 1959 news conference that introduced the Mercury ...   
   

From Top Left: Alan B. Shepard, Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, L.
Gordon Cooper
Bottom Left: Wally Schirra, Donald K. "Deke" Slayton, John

Glenn and Scott Carpenter.

posted by Bob Karm in ANNIVERSARY,Astronauts,DEBUT,HISTORY,NASA and have No Comments