Ten firsts for the original 7 astronauts

November 11, 11:58 AMSpace Education ExaminerBarbara Malone

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Project Mercury

NASA set up a threefold plan for sending a man to the Moon. They named the programs Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo.NASA's named the first step in their plan, Project Mercury.

Named for the `messenger of the gods' in Roman mythology, NASA developed the program to put a man in space, keep him there for a short time, and return him to earth.

05/05/1961

1) First American in space in suborbital spaceflight
2) First controlled spaceflight

Alan Shepard - Mercury Freedom 7
 

02/20/1962

3) First American in orbital space flight
4) First time frogmen attach floatation devices, and assist in recovery of space capsule
5) First astronaut to address the United Nations

John Glenn - Mercury 6 (Friendship)

10/03/1962

6) First liquor carried into space -miniature of scotch 
7) First broadcast of live message to radio and TV listeners, by an astronaut

Walter Schirra Mercury 7 (Sigma) 

05/15/1963

8) First U.S. astronaut to spend more than one day in space

Gordon Cooper Mercury 9 (Faith)

03/23/1965

  9) First astronaut to fly for a second time into space
10) First Gemini mission

Gus Grissom Gemini 3 (Molly Brown)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Did you know?

The Mercury 7 Monument marks the launch site of the original manned orbital space flights at Cape Kennedy, in Florida. The monument, erected on November 10, 1964, is in honor of the US manned space program. Symbolizing the astronomical symbol for the planet Mercury, and the number 7 representing the original 7 astronauts, the monument is made of stainless steel and stands thirteen feet high.

At the base of the monument is a bronze plaque bearing the faces of the original 7 astronauts. Buried beneath the monument is a time capsule containing Project Mercury artifacts. It will remain sealed until 2464.
 
For more info visit NASA's website: Project Mercury 

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