Introduction to Space Exploration - The Right Stuff

NASA's space program introduced a new kind of hero to American culture—the astronaut. When the Mercury program began NASA selected seven men to be astronauts. They were called the "Mercury Seven." The men were all successful military test pilots known for their bravery and professional piloting skills:

• M. Scott Carpenter (1925–)
• L. Gordon "Gordo" Cooper, Jr. (1927–2004)
• John H. Glenn, Jr. (1921–)
• Virgil "Gus" Grissom (1926–67)
• Walter Schirra, Jr. (1923–)
• Alan Shepard, Jr.
• Donald "Deke" Slayton (1924–93)

The men had to pass strenuous batteries of physical, mental, and medical tests to become astronauts and begin their training to go into space. To the American public the Mercury Seven captured the bold and daring spirit of famous flyers like the Red Baron and Charles Lindbergh. They were instant superstars and began receiving thousands of fan letters. Once NASA realized the great popularity of the astronauts they used them as good-will ambassadors for the agency. Astronauts traveled throughout the country speaking to civic groups and clubs to elicit public support for the space program.

NASA scientists originally envisioned astronauts as mere guinea pigs for space experiments. They were intended to be passive passengers covered with medical sensors and sealed inside space capsules completely controlled by operators on the ground through onboard computers. The astronauts rebelled at this notion and insisted on many changes, including installation of windows and manual piloting controls on the space capsules. When the Gemini program began, NASA selected nine more astronaut candidates and soon dozens after that. By the end of the Apollo program thirty-four American astronauts had traveled into space.

In September 1979 the story of the original Mercury Seven was profiled in a book titled The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe. In the book Wolfe describes the tremendous pressures put upon the first astronauts during the space program, their dedication to serving their country, and how they reacted to fame and glory. In 1983 the book was made into a popular movie of the same name.