April 9, 1959
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – On April 9, 1959, NASA introduced its first group of astronauts, known as the Mercury 7, to the nation and the world. The event took place in the ballroom of the Dolley Madison House on Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C., which then served as the initial headquarters of the new space agency.
The astronauts were seated at a long table on a makeshift stage, and NASA Administrator T. Keith Glennan introduced them in alphabetical order:
– Malcolm S. Carpenter
– Leroy G. Cooper
– John H. Glenn
– Virgil I. Grissom
– Walter M. Schirra
– Alan B. Shepard
– Donald K. Slayton
These seven men were selected from a pool of over 500 military test pilots to become America’s first astronauts.
Their selection was based on their exceptional piloting skills, physical fitness, and other qualifications deemed essential for space travel. The introduction of the Mercury 7 marked a significant milestone in the United States’ efforts to lead in space exploration during the early years of the space race.
Each member of the Mercury 7 went on to make significant contributions to NASA’s human spaceflight programs:
– Alan Shepard became the first American in space on May 5, 1961, aboard the Freedom 7 capsule.
– John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth on February 20, 1962, aboard Friendship 7.
– Gus Grissom piloted the Liberty Bell 7 on July 21, 1961, and later died in the Apollo 1 fire in 1967.
– Scott Carpenter flew aboard Aurora 7 on May 24, 1962.
– Wally Schirra flew aboard Sigma 7 on October 3, 1962, and later participated in the Gemini and Apollo programs.
– Gordon Cooper piloted Faith 7 on May 15, 1963, completing 22 orbits around the Earth.
– Deke Slayton was grounded due to a medical condition but later flew in the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975.
The legacy of the Mercury 7 astronauts paved the way for future space exploration endeavors and inspired generations to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The post THIS DAY IN HISTORY: NASA Introduces First Astronauts, Paves Way for Future Space Exploration appeared first on Space Coast Daily.