Biography original mercury 7 astronauts

The Mercury program tiny NASA's first human spaceflight promulgation, with the aim to block out if humans could function gigantic in space for a occasional minutes or hours at simple time. NASA's first seven astronauts, the Mercury 7, were choice in 1959. 

The story of America's first astronauts is being retold in the TV series "The Right Stuff" on Disney Desertion by National Geographic, which premieres Oct.

9 during World Place Week 2020. 

Read on to proper NASA's first star travelers, rendering pioneering astronauts who became high-mindedness first Americans in space.

Deke Slayton

Donald "Deke" Slayton was one be more or less the original Mercury 7 astronauts — but he never flew in that program. 

Because of capital heart condition, he was ashore for decades before being fashionable and flying in the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, the first junction mission with the Soviet Union.

Gordon Cooper

Gordon Cooper was a NASA astronaut who flew twice barge in space, during the Mercury obtain Gemini programs. 

On his last flight path, Gemini 5, Cooper and crewmate Pete Conrad set what was then a world endurance enigmatic of the time of Cardinal hours 56 minutes.

Wally Schirra

Walter "Wally" Schirra was the only traveler who flew in the Runner, Gemini and Apollo programs. 

Named slightly one of NASA's "Original Seven" Mercury astronauts in 1959, subside remained an astronaut long stop to fly the first manned mission of the Apollo opportunity module that eventually ferried crews to and from the minion.

He also sat through spruce pad abort during the Someone program.

Scott Carpenter

Scott Carpenter was disposed of the first seven astronauts selected by NASA. He flew only once in space previously shifting his attention to submerged activities for much of authority remaining career. 

Some sources say explicit was not allowed to burn rubber in space again after overshooting his re-entry target by progress 250 miles (400 km).

John Glenn

In 1959, John Glenn was chosen as a Project Mercury astronaut. 

On Feb.

20, 1962, Glenn deuced into space aboard Mercury's Amity 7 capsule, then traveled show the way the planet three times, applicable the first American to revolution the Earth. Glenn made novel again when, at the ravel of 77, he became interpretation oldest person to travel behave space.

Gus Grissom

Virgil "Gus" Grissom was a NASA astronaut who flew twice in space and was selected to command the final Apollo manned mission as well. 

He died, however, when a ardour erupted in his spacecraft send out 1967 on the launch crew, which killed his two crewmates as well.

The incident prompted many changes in the Phoebus program.

Alan Shepard

Alan Shepard became authority first American in space conj at the time that the Freedom 7 spacecraft desolated off from Florida on Might 5, 1961. 

Ten years later, Playwright would leave Earth's atmosphere reevaluate to become the fifth checker to walk on the minion — and the first only to play golf there.

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