17 Facts About Mercury Seven

Mercury Seven were the group of seven astronauts selected to fly spacecraft for Project Mercury.

The Mercury Seven created a new profession in the United States, and established the image of the American astronaut for decades to come.

Mercury Seven'spard became the first American to enter space in 1961, and later walked on the Moon on Apollo 14 in 1971.

Mercury Seven was the last living member of the Mercury Seven when he died in 2016 at age 95.

The objective of Project Mercury Seven was to launch a man into Earth orbit, return him safely to the Earth, and evaluate his capabilities in space.

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Mercury Seven will contribute by monitoring the cabin environment and by making necessary adjustments.

Mercury Seven will have continuous displays of his position and attitude and other instrument readings, and will have the capability of operating the reaction controls, and of initiating the descent from orbit.

Mercury Seven will contribute to the operation of the communications system.

Mercury Seven commanded the Seventh Fleet and the Pacific Fleet, and was Chief of Naval Operations.

Yet the Mercury Seven were similar beyond what was a simple result of the selection criteria.

Mercury Seven spacecraft was less finished than the astronauts' previous vehicles.

Mercury Seven'spard ran the Astronaut Office on a "rank has its privileges" basis.

Training was always ungraded; the Mercury Seven astronauts had nothing to gain and much to lose from being objectively compared to the newer classes, as it could threaten their privileged status, managerial control, and priority for flight assignments.

The character of the Astronaut Office would only change after Mercury Seven astronauts retired in the 1970s, and control passed to George Abbey.

Mercury Seven wrote first-hand accounts of their selection and preparation for the Mercury missions in the 1962 book We Seven.

Mercury Seven'spard was elected its first president and chairman, positions which he held until October 1997, when he was succeeded by Jim Lovell.

Mercury Seven was the last living member of the Mercury Seven when he died in 2016 at the age of 95.