{"id":640258,"date":"2024-04-02T18:04:39","date_gmt":"2024-04-02T22:04:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?p=640258"},"modified":"2024-04-03T14:16:23","modified_gmt":"2024-04-03T18:16:23","slug":"65-years-ago-nasa-selects-americas-first-astronauts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/65-years-ago-nasa-selects-americas-first-astronauts\/","title":{"rendered":"65 Years Ago: NASA Selects America\u2019s First Astronauts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>On Nov. 5, 1958, NASA, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/65-years-ago-nasa-begins-operations\/\">newly established<\/a> to lead America\u2019s civilian space program, formally established the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/65-years-ago-nasa-formally-establishes-the-space-task-group\/\">Space Task Group<\/a> (STG) at NASA\u2019s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, to implement one of the nation\u2019s top priorities \u2013 to develop a spacecraft capable of sending humans into space and returning them safely to Earth. In January 1959, the STG selected a contractor to build the spacecraft for Project Mercury and began the process of choosing who would fly the spacecraft. President Dwight D. Eisenhower directed NASA to choose its first astronauts from among the ranks of military pilots. The three-month rigorous process led to the selection on April 2, 1959, of seven men from among America\u2019s military branches. The agency presented them to the world on April 9 as America\u2019s Mercury 7 astronauts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"221\" width=\"352\" class=\"wp-image-640260\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-1-stg-hq-at-larc-sep-1-1962-s62-00134.jpg\" alt=\"The headquarters building for the Space Task Group at NASA\u2019s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-1-stg-hq-at-larc-sep-1-1962-s62-00134.jpg 4682w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-1-stg-hq-at-larc-sep-1-1962-s62-00134.jpg?resize=300,188 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-1-stg-hq-at-larc-sep-1-1962-s62-00134.jpg?resize=768,481 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-1-stg-hq-at-larc-sep-1-1962-s62-00134.jpg?resize=1024,641 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-1-stg-hq-at-larc-sep-1-1962-s62-00134.jpg?resize=1536,962 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-1-stg-hq-at-larc-sep-1-1962-s62-00134.jpg?resize=2048,1282 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-1-stg-hq-at-larc-sep-1-1962-s62-00134.jpg?resize=400,250 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-1-stg-hq-at-larc-sep-1-1962-s62-00134.jpg?resize=600,376 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-1-stg-hq-at-larc-sep-1-1962-s62-00134.jpg?resize=900,563 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-1-stg-hq-at-larc-sep-1-1962-s62-00134.jpg?resize=1200,751 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-1-stg-hq-at-larc-sep-1-1962-s62-00134.jpg?resize=2000,1252 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 352px) 100vw, 352px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"221\" width=\"295\" class=\"wp-image-640261\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-2-mercury-capsule-schematic.jpg\" alt=\"An early cutaway representation of the Mercury capsule\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-2-mercury-capsule-schematic.jpg 946w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-2-mercury-capsule-schematic.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-2-mercury-capsule-schematic.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-2-mercury-capsule-schematic.jpg?resize=400,300 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-2-mercury-capsule-schematic.jpg?resize=600,450 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-2-mercury-capsule-schematic.jpg?resize=900,675 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 295px) 100vw, 295px\" \/><br><em>Left: The headquarters building for the Space Task Group at NASA\u2019s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. Right: An early cutaway representation of the Mercury capsule.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>President Eisenhower decided that military test pilots would make the most suitable astronauts. Choosing from among armed forces personnel would expedite the selection process since the government had access to their records and all had received prior security clearances and medical screening. On Jan. 5, 1959, NASA established the qualifications for the astronauts: less than 40 years of age; less than 5 feet 11 inches tall; excellent physical condition; bachelor\u2019s degree or equivalent; graduate of test pilot school; and 1,500 hours of jet flight time. A screening in late January of the files of 508 graduates of the Navy and Air Force test pilot schools who met the basic age and flying requirements resulted in 110 qualified candidates. The selection committee ranked these candidates and divided them into three groups of about 35 each. The first two groups, comprising 69 candidates, received classified briefings at the Pentagon about the Mercury spacecraft and their potential participation. From this group, 53 volunteered for further evaluation and NASA decided not to call in the third group of candidates. Following an initial medical screening, 32 from this group advanced to undergo thorough medical evaluations at the Lovelace Foundation for Medical Education and Research, commonly known as the Lovelace Clinic, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Beginning on Feb. 7, the candidates in six groups of five or six spent one week at Lovelace undergoing comprehensive medical examinations. From there, 31 of the 32 (one candidate failed a blood test at Lovelace) advanced to the Aero Medical Laboratory (AML) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, where weeklong testing of the six groups took place between Feb. 15 and March 28. Rather than simply examining them physically, testing at AML consisted of stressing the candidates in centrifuges, altitude chambers, and other devices to evaluate their reactions. The selection committee met at Langley in late March and based on all the available data selected seven candidates for Project Mercury. The 24 unsuccessful candidates received notification by telephone on April 1 with a follow up letter from Assistant STG Manager <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/DonlanCJ\/donlancj.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Charles J. Donlan<\/a> on April 3, also advising them to apply for any possible future astronaut selections. Four of them did apply to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/60-years-ago-nasa-selects-a-second-group-of-astronauts\/\">second selection<\/a> in 1962, and NASA selected two of them. The seven chosen as Mercury astronauts received telephone calls from Donlan on April 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"368\" width=\"624\" class=\"wp-image-640264\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-3-group-photo-apr-9-1959.jpg\" alt=\"Group photo of the Mercury 7 astronauts at their first public appearance in April 1959: Walter M. Schirra, left, Alan B. Shepard, Virgil I. \u201cGus\u201d Grissom, Donald K. \u201cDeke\u201d Slayton, John H. Glenn, M. Scott Carpenter, and L. Gordon Cooper\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-3-group-photo-apr-9-1959.jpg 1031w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-3-group-photo-apr-9-1959.jpg?resize=300,177 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-3-group-photo-apr-9-1959.jpg?resize=768,453 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-3-group-photo-apr-9-1959.jpg?resize=1024,604 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-3-group-photo-apr-9-1959.jpg?resize=400,236 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-3-group-photo-apr-9-1959.jpg?resize=600,354 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-3-group-photo-apr-9-1959.jpg?resize=900,531 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><br><em>Group photo of the Mercury 7 astronauts at their first public appearance in April 1959: Walter M. Schirra, left, Alan B. Shepard, Virgil I. \u201cGus\u201d Grissom, Donald K. \u201cDeke\u201d Slayton, John H. Glenn, M. Scott Carpenter, and L. Gordon Cooper.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On April 9, 1959, NASA formally introduced the men 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., the new space agency\u2019s first headquarters. The astronauts took their seats at a long table on a makeshift stage, and NASA Administrator <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/65-years-ago-eisenhower-nominates-glennan-and-dryden-to-top-nasa-positions\/\">T. Keith Glennan<\/a> introduced them in alphabetical order: \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-m-scott-carpenter\/\">Malcolm S. Carpenter<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-l-gordon-cooper\/\">Leroy G. Cooper<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-john-h-glenn\/\">John H. Glenn<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-virgil-i-grissom\/\">Virgil I. Grissom<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-walter-wally-schirra\/\">Walter M. Schirra<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-alan-shepard\/\">Alan B. Shepard<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-donald-k-deke-slayton\/\">Donald K. Slayton<\/a> \u2026 the nation\u2019s Mercury astronauts!\u201d After a brief photo session, for the next 90 minutes the new astronauts responded to numerous questions from the reporters gathered in the ballroom. For most of the men, meeting the press represented a new experience as they had little prior exposure to the media in their previous jobs as test pilots. By the time the event concluded, they clearly sensed that their lives had changed forever, with public attention as much a part of their jobs as training for and flying in space. They reported for work at Langley on April 27.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"202\" width=\"161\" class=\"wp-image-640265\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-4-carpenter-g60-02737.jpg\" alt=\"M. Scott Carpenter\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-4-carpenter-g60-02737.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-4-carpenter-g60-02737.jpg?resize=240,300 240w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-4-carpenter-g60-02737.jpg?resize=768,960 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-4-carpenter-g60-02737.jpg?resize=819,1024 819w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-4-carpenter-g60-02737.jpg?resize=1229,1536 1229w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-4-carpenter-g60-02737.jpg?resize=1638,2048 1638w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-4-carpenter-g60-02737.jpg?resize=320,400 320w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-4-carpenter-g60-02737.jpg?resize=480,600 480w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-4-carpenter-g60-02737.jpg?resize=720,900 720w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-4-carpenter-g60-02737.jpg?resize=960,1200 960w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-4-carpenter-g60-02737.jpg?resize=1600,2000 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 161px) 100vw, 161px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"202\" width=\"157\" class=\"wp-image-640266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-5-cooper-in-1960.jpg\" alt=\"L. Gordon Cooper\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-5-cooper-in-1960.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-5-cooper-in-1960.jpg?resize=234,300 234w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 157px) 100vw, 157px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"202\" width=\"162\" class=\"wp-image-640267\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-6-glenn-g60-2739.jpg\" alt=\"John H. Glenn\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-6-glenn-g60-2739.jpg 2420w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-6-glenn-g60-2739.jpg?resize=242,300 242w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-6-glenn-g60-2739.jpg?resize=768,952 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-6-glenn-g60-2739.jpg?resize=826,1024 826w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-6-glenn-g60-2739.jpg?resize=1239,1536 1239w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-6-glenn-g60-2739.jpg?resize=1652,2048 1652w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-6-glenn-g60-2739.jpg?resize=323,400 323w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-6-glenn-g60-2739.jpg?resize=484,600 484w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-6-glenn-g60-2739.jpg?resize=726,900 726w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-6-glenn-g60-2739.jpg?resize=968,1200 968w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-6-glenn-g60-2739.jpg?resize=1613,2000 1613w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 162px) 100vw, 162px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"202\" width=\"159\" class=\"wp-image-640274\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-7-grissom-in-1960.jpg\" alt=\"Virgil I. \u201cGus\u201d Grissom\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-7-grissom-in-1960.jpg 4537w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-7-grissom-in-1960.jpg?resize=237,300 237w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-7-grissom-in-1960.jpg?resize=768,971 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-7-grissom-in-1960.jpg?resize=810,1024 810w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-7-grissom-in-1960.jpg?resize=1215,1536 1215w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-7-grissom-in-1960.jpg?resize=1620,2048 1620w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-7-grissom-in-1960.jpg?resize=316,400 316w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-7-grissom-in-1960.jpg?resize=474,600 474w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-7-grissom-in-1960.jpg?resize=712,900 712w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-7-grissom-in-1960.jpg?resize=949,1200 949w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-7-grissom-in-1960.jpg?resize=1582,2000 1582w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 159px) 100vw, 159px\" \/><br><em>Mercury 7 astronauts M. Scott Carpenter, left, L. Gordon Cooper, John H. Glenn, and Virgil I. \u201cGus\u201d Grissom.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Carpenter flew America\u2019s second orbital flight, Mercury 7, in May 1962, after serving as backup to Glenn for his historic first orbital flight. He named his capsule <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/60-years-ago-scott-carpenter-orbits-the-earth-aboard-aurora-7\/\">Aurora 7<\/a>. Due to late firing of his retrorockets for the deorbit burn, Carpenter landed 250 miles from the target, and he waited hours for rescue forces to recover him. Cooper served as Schirra\u2019s backup before getting his flight assignment on Mercury 9. He spent 34 hours aboard his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/60-years-ago-coopers-faith-7-mission-closes-out-project-mercury\/\">Faith 7<\/a> capsule, at the time the longest American spaceflight. He served as command pilot of the eight-day <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-gemini-5-sets-a-new-record\/\">Gemini V<\/a> mission in August 1965, setting another American record. As his last assignment, he served as backup commander for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-nasa-names-apollo-10-crew\/\">Apollo 10<\/a> in 1969. Glenn made history in February 1962 as the first American to orbit the Earth aboard <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/60-years-ago-john-glenn-the-first-american-to-orbit-the-earth-aboard-friendship-7\/\">Friendship 7<\/a>. Although he retired from NASA in 1964 to pursue a career in politics, he flew again as a U.S. Senator in 1998 aboard <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/25-years-ago-sts-95-john-glenn-returns-to-space\/\">STS-95<\/a> at age 77, still the record as the oldest person to orbit the Earth. Grissom flew the second suborbital mission, Mercury 4, aboard his Liberty Bell 7 capsule, in August 1961. Following splashdown, his spacecraft\u2019s hatch accidentally blew off and seawater rapidly filled it, a recovery helicopter pulling him to safety at the last moment. As the first American to travel to space a second time, he commanded the first two-man spacecraft, Gemini 3, in March 1965. He received a third spaceflight assignment as the commander of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-three-months-until-apollo-1\/\">Apollo 1<\/a>, the first flight of the three-person spacecraft. He died tragically during a ground test <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-tragedy-on-the-launch-pad\/\">fire<\/a> of the spacecraft on Jan. 27, 1967.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"278\" width=\"217\" class=\"wp-image-640281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-8-schirra-in-1960.jpg\" alt=\"Walter M. Schirra\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-8-schirra-in-1960.jpg 293w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-8-schirra-in-1960.jpg?resize=234,300 234w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 217px) 100vw, 217px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"278\" width=\"218\" class=\"wp-image-640282\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-9-shepard-in-1960.jpg\" alt=\"Alan B. Shepard\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-9-shepard-in-1960.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-9-shepard-in-1960.jpg?resize=234,300 234w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-9-shepard-in-1960.jpg?resize=768,983 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-9-shepard-in-1960.jpg?resize=313,400 313w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-9-shepard-in-1960.jpg?resize=469,600 469w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-9-shepard-in-1960.jpg?resize=703,900 703w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 218px) 100vw, 218px\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"278\" width=\"216\" class=\"wp-image-640283\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-10-slayton-portrait-1960.jpg\" alt=\"Donald K. \u201cDeke\u201d Slayton\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-10-slayton-portrait-1960.jpg 464w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-10-slayton-portrait-1960.jpg?resize=232,300 232w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-10-slayton-portrait-1960.jpg?resize=310,400 310w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 216px) 100vw, 216px\" \/><br><em>Mercury 7 astronauts Walter M. Schirra, left, Alan B. Shepard, and Donald K. \u201cDeke\u201d Slayton.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Schirra served as Carpenter\u2019s backup before flying six orbits aboard his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/60-years-ago-astronaut-schirra-orbits-the-earth-six-times-aboard-sigma-7\/\">Sigma 7<\/a> spacecraft during the Mercury 8 mission in October 1962. He served as Grissom\u2019s backup for Gemini 3 and flew as the command pilot for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-the-spirit-of-76-the-first-rendezvous-in-space\/\">Gemini VI<\/a> in December 1965, the first space rendezvous mission. Two months earlier, he showed his cool when on the first attempt to launch Gemini VI, the rocket\u2019s engines shutdown just before liftoff. Before the Apollo 1 fire, he served as the commander of the Apollo 2 mission, then once again as Grissom\u2019s backup for Apollo 1. After the fire, he flew as the commander of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-nine-months-before-the-moon-landing\/\">Apollo 7<\/a>, the first crewed test of Command and Service Module in October 1968, the only astronaut to fly aboard all three of America\u2019s first spacecraft. Shepard holds the honor as the first American in space for his suborbital flight aboard <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/60-years-ago-alan-shepard-becomes-the-first-american-in-space\">Freedom 7<\/a> during the Mercury 4 mission in May 1961. Grounded by an inner ear malady, Shepard went on to lead the astronauts as their chief until reinstated to flight duty in May 1969. He served as the commander of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-apollo-14-launches-to-the-moon\/\">Apollo 14<\/a> in January-February 1971, the only Mercury 7 astronaut to walk on the Moon. Originally assigned to fly the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/60-years-ago-scott-carpenter-orbits-the-earth-aboard-aurora-7\/\">Mercury 7<\/a> mission, in March 1962, flight surgeons <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/astronauts\/former-astronauts\/60-and-50-years-ago-astronaut-slayton-grounded-in-1962-reinstated-in-1972\/\">grounded Slayton<\/a> due to a heart irregularity just two months before his scheduled mission aboard Delta 7. While grounded, he served as chief of flight crew operations. Flight surgeons reinstated him to flying status in March 1972, and soon after NASA assigned him as the docking module pilot for the July 1975 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/45-years-ago-soyuz-and-apollo-launch\/\">Apollo-Soyuz Test Project<\/a> joint mission with the Soviet Union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"115\" width=\"624\" class=\"wp-image-640287\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-11-table-of-flights.jpg\" alt=\"Summary of spaceflights by the Mercury 7 astronauts. The highlighted boxes with flight names in italics represent astronauts who died before they could undertake the mission. Italics represent astronaut assigned to but did not fly the mission.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-11-table-of-flights.jpg 998w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-11-table-of-flights.jpg?resize=300,55 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-11-table-of-flights.jpg?resize=768,142 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-11-table-of-flights.jpg?resize=400,74 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-11-table-of-flights.jpg?resize=600,111 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-11-table-of-flights.jpg?resize=900,166 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><br><em>Summary of spaceflights by the Mercury 7 astronauts. The highlighted boxes with flight names in italics represent astronauts who died before they could undertake the mission. Italics represent astronaut assigned to but did not fly the mission.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Astronaut biographies can be found at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/astronauts\">https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/astronauts<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read the <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/\" rel=\"noopener\">JSC History Office<\/a> oral histories with <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/CarpenterMS\/carpenterms.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Carpenter<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/CooperLG\/cooperlg.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Cooper<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/GlennJH\/glennjh.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Glenn<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/SchirraWM\/schirrawm.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Schirra<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/ShepardAB\/shepardab.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Shepard<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-related-articles\">\t\t<section class=\"hds-related-articles padding-x-0 padding-y-3 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"w-100 grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0 text-align-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\"><h2 style=\"max-width: 100%;\" class=\"width-full w-full maxw-full\">Explore More<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/flag-day-2024-one-small-flags-incredible-journey\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?resize=400,300 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?resize=600,450 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?resize=900,675 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">7 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">Flag Day 2024 \u2013 One Small Flag\u2019s Incredible Journey<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t3 days ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-manned-orbiting-laboratory-cancellation\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"212\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/mol-cancellation-4-mol-group-1-astronauts.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/mol-cancellation-4-mol-group-1-astronauts.jpg 424w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/mol-cancellation-4-mol-group-1-astronauts.jpg?resize=300,212 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/mol-cancellation-4-mol-group-1-astronauts.jpg?resize=400,283 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">10 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">55 Years Ago: Manned Orbiting Laboratory Cancellation<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t5 days ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-star-trek-final-episode-airs-relationship-with-nasa-endures\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"217\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg?resize=300,217 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg?resize=768,555 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg?resize=400,289 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg?resize=600,434 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">15 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">55 Years Ago: Star Trek Final Episode Airs, Relationship with NASA Endures<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2 weeks ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On Nov. 5, 1958, NASA, newly established to lead America\u2019s civilian space program, formally established the Space Task Group (STG) at NASA\u2019s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, to implement one of the nation\u2019s top priorities \u2013 to develop a spacecraft capable of sending humans into space and returning them safely to Earth. In January […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":640264,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2671,2718],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[12664,11995],"coauthors":[11996],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"65 Years Ago: NASA Selects America\u2019s First Astronauts","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/65-years-ago-nasa-selects-americas-first-astronauts\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/65-years-ago-nasa-selects-americas-first-astronauts\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-3-group-photo-apr-9-1959.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-3-group-photo-apr-9-1959.jpg"},"articleSection":"NASA History","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"John Uri"}],"creator":["John Uri"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["Missions","Project Mercury","NASA History"],"dateCreated":"2024-04-02T22:04:39Z","datePublished":"2024-04-02T22:04:39Z","dateModified":"2024-04-03T18:16:23Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"65 Years Ago: NASA Selects America\u2019s First Astronauts\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/65-years-ago-nasa-selects-americas-first-astronauts\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-3-group-photo-apr-9-1959.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2024-04-02T22:04:39Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA History\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"Missions,Project Mercury,NASA History\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"John Uri\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":7,"time_ago":"2 months","featured_image":{"id":640264,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/mercury-7-astronauts-3-group-photo-apr-9-1959.jpg","title":"Mercury astronauts, left to right, R. Schirra, Shepherd, Virgil Grissom, Slayton, Glenn, Carpenter and Air Force Capt. Cooper with a mock-up of rocket and Mercury capsule, 1959. (AP Photo","alt":"Group photo of the Mercury 7 astronauts at their first public appearance in April 1959: Walter M. Schirra, left, Alan B. Shepard, Virgil I. \u201cGus\u201d Grissom, Donald K. \u201cDeke\u201d Slayton, John H. Glenn, M. Scott Carpenter, and L. Gordon Cooper","caption":"Group photo of the Mercury 7 astronauts at their first public appearance in April 1959: Walter M. Schirra, left, Alan B. Shepard, Virgil I. \u201cGus\u201d Grissom, Donald K. \u201cDeke\u201d Slayton, John H. Glenn, M. Scott Carpenter, and L. Gordon Cooper"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/640258"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/74"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=640258"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/640258\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":640494,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/640258\/revisions\/640494"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/640264"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=640258"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=640258"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=640258"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=640258"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=640258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}