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The Mercury Seven
On April 9, 1959, the National Space and Aviation Agency (NASA) announced the selection of the "Mercury Seven" astronauts or "Astronaut
Group 1."
The Mercury Seven was the first group of astronauts picked from a pool of 89 candidates by NASA. This was the only astronaut group whose
members flew on all the classes of NASA manned spacecraft of the 20th century. These mission included Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and ended
with John Glenn's flight on the STS-95 Space Shuttle mission.
Five of the Mercury Seven are now deceased: Leroy Gordon Cooper II, (1927 - 2004); Virgil Ivan (Gus) Grissom, (1926 - 1967); Walter Marty
(Wally) Schirra II, (1923 - 2007); Alan Bartlett Shepard II, (1923 - 1998); and Donald Kent (Deke) Slayton, (1924-1993). The last surviving
members are John Glenn and Scott Carpenter, both in their 80s.
Learning Activity
Assign students to research how astronauts were trained in the past and how they are trained presently, and why the difference. Students
should write a report of at least 150 words that cites at least three resources and addresses the following essential questions for critical
thinking (you can add or substitute others):
- What criteria were used to select the Mercury Seven?
- What type of training did they receive as astronauts?
- How does the criteria for selecting astronauts today differ from the past and why?
- How does astronaut training today differ from the Mercury Seven?
Pathfinders
#1: Click Topics tab > Enter "Astronaut training" in the Search box > click "Training AND Astronauts" > View Documents
#2: "Type Mercury Seven Astronauts" in Basic Search
Use our custom ProQuest models for written
and PowerPoint-style reports.
  
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