The astronauts became celebrities as the press and public focused on them. They made public appearances for NASA to promote the fledgling space program, and they used the public attention to increase their influence in the program. In addition to training and public relations, they consulted on the development of the Mercury spacecraft. They were pilots, and the thought of merely riding in a totally automated spacecraft went against their nature. Inc. All rights reserved.
Meteors burn up when they hit the earth's atmosphere.