Mercury Seven Background and Press Conference

8/8/2019 Mercury Seven Background and Press Conference

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NATIONAL AERONAUTICSAND SPACE ADMiNISTRATION

WA S H I N G TO N 2 5 , 0 . C.

E X 3-3260E x t . 7827

N A S A RELEASE NO. 59-111FOR RELEASE: AM's Tues.A p r i l 7, 1959

SEVEN TO ENTER MERCURY T R A I N I N G PROGRAM

Sev en vo lun t ee r s w i l l r e p o r t to t h e S p a c e F l i g h t A c t i v i t y a t

th e Langley Research Cent er, Hampton, V ir gi ni a , i n t h e e a r l y f u t u r e

f o r P r o je c t Mercury o r b i t a l f l i g h t t r a i n i n g , t h e Na ti o na l A e r o na u ti cs

and Space Adminis t ra t ion s a i d t oday, T h i s number i s l e s s t h a n t h a t

a n t i c i p a t ed e a r l i e r i n o r d e r to a s s u r e more c om pl ete p a r t i c i p a t i o n

by e ac h s e l e c t e e i n a l l ph as es of th e Mercury development.

( N o t e t o e d i t o r s : T h e f i n a l s e l e c t e e s w i l l be named a t a p r e s sconference a t 2 P.M. Thursday a t t h e NASA Aud ito rium, l o c a t e d a t1520 I t r e e t , N . " W.n o t f o r p u b l i c a t i o n p

T h i s i n f o r m a t i o n i s for p l ann ing pu rpo s e s an d

NASA emphasized t h a t t h e g r e a t pe r cen t a ge of t ho se who hav e&&%

bee n t h r o ugh t h e s e l e c t i v e s c r een ing meet t h e demanding Mercury

requirements , which were b a s e d o n p s y c h o l o g i c a l a n d p h y s i o l o g i c a ls t a n da r d s developed f o r sp ec i a l m i s s ion a s s ignmen t s . The s even

v o l u n t e e r s w i l l p r o v i d e a v a r i e t y of t e c h n i c a l e x p er i en c e fo r t h e

p r o j e c t i n a d d i t i o n t o t r a i n i n g a s a s t r o n a u t s .

I n i t i a l p l an s c a l l e d f o r 1 2 men t o u nd ergo a s t r o n a u t t r a i n i n g .

Du ring t h e s e l e c t i o n p r o c e s s , i t became apparent t h a t the Mercury

team w i l l c o n s i s t o f p i l o t s s u p e r b l y a d ap te d to t h e demands of t h e

manned s a t e l l i t e p ro gr am . All v o l u n t e e r s w ere h i g h l y m o t i v a t ed ,

and a r e e v a l u a t i o n of Mercu ry r equ i r emen t s i nd i ca t ed a smaller

number was desireable so t h a t e a c h w i l l have a n i mp o rt an t r o l e i n :

1. E n g in e er i n g an d s c i e n t i f i c d ev elo pm en t o f t h e s p a c e v e h i c l e .2. S u b - o r b i t a l b u i l d u p m i s s i o n s .3. Manned s a t e l l i t e f l i g h t .


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Because many of th e unusua l con di t io ns expec ted i n space

f l i g h t a r e s i m i l a r to t h o s e ex pe ri en ce d by m i l i t a r y t e s t p i l o t s ,

t h e NASA went to this f i e l d to s ee k v o lu n t e er s f o r t h e a s t r o n a u t

program. General req ui rem ent s were p o s s e s s i o n of a b a c h e l o r ' s

degree or e q u iv a l en t i n e n g i n e e ri n g or t h e p h y s i c a l s c i e n c e s ;

gradua t ion f rom a m i l i t a r y t e s t p i l o t s c h o o l ; 1 ,500 hour s o f f l y i n g

t i m e ; under age 40, a n d f i v e f e e t , 11 i n c h e s i n h e i g h t or l e s s .

The educa t iona l requi rement w a s s e t b ec au se o f t h e v a r i e t y of

s c i e n t i f i c a nd t e c h n i c a l p ro bl em s t h a t w i l l c on fr on t t h e a s t r o -

nau t s t h roughou t t h e program.A p r e l i m i n a r y s c r e e n i n g o f r e c o r d s i n d i c a t e d t h a t more than

100 a c t i v e g ra d ua t es of m i l i t a r y t e s t p i l o t s c ho o ls would q u a l i f y

under t h e s e r equ i r emen t s , I t was found unnecessary to c o n t a c t a l l

of them, because of the f i r s t 69 ca l l ed t o Wash ington t o h e a r t h e

Mercu ry p ro j ec t ou t l i ned , 80 p e r c e n t v o l u n t e e r e d ..#$

A l l were of s uc h h i g h c a l i b e r t h a t s e l e c t i o n w a s d i f f i c u l t .

Through i n d i v i d u a l i n t e r v i e w s an d s u i t a b i l i t y d i s c u s s i o n s to

determine mot iva t ion , expe r ien ce and te ch ni ca l background, a group

of 32 w a s s e l e c t e d t o p ro ce ed f u r t h e r i n t h e program. The seven

Mercury as t ronauts w i l l come from t h i s group of 3 2 .

From Washington, t h e s e l e c t i o n s c h e d u l e t o o k t h e p i l o t s f i r s t

to Love lace C l in i c i n Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the n t o t h e

Wright A i r Development Aeromedical Lab ora tor ies , Wri ght -Pat ters on A

Force Base, Ohio. 4 t Love lace , c and ida t e s were g iv en e x a c t i n g p h y s i c a l

examina t ions . A t WADC, t h e A i r Force , w i t h t h e as s i s t an ce o f Army

a nd Navy s p e c i a l i s t s , a s s e s s e d c a n d i d a t e s i n t h e p s y c h o l o g ic a l a n d

s t r e s s t o l e r a n c e a r e a s .


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T h e s e l e c t i o n process ended a t th e Langley Research Center

Space F l i g h t A c t i v i t y , w h e r e f i n a l e v a l u a t i o n w a s under taken by

a g ro up r e p r e s e n t i n g b o t h m e di ca l a n d s c i e n t i f i c p r o f e s s i o n s .

Robert R. Gi l r u t h , d i r e c t o r o f t h e NASA Space Task Group , a l so

i s d i r e c t o r of Pr o j ec t Mercury. Headquar te r s for t h e g r o u p , a n d t h e

f u t u r e home of t h e a s t r o n a u t s , i s a t Langley. As t ronau ts w i l l t r a i n

a t a number of l o c a t i o n s th r ou g ho u t t h e c o u nt ry, i n c l u d i n g t h e Wri gh t

A i r Development Center; Naval A i r Development Cente r, Johnsv i l l e ,

P e n n s y l v a n i a ; A t l a n t i c M i s s i l e Range, Cape Canav eral F lo ri d a , a n d

at b i om e d ic a l c e n t e r s t h ro u g h ou t t h e c o u n t r y.

- END -


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NATIGNALAERONAUTICSANb SPACE 'ADMINISTRATION- - *

WASHINGTON 25 , 0 . C.

SPACE TASK GROUP FACT SHEET

I. BACKGROUND

The Space Task Group i s a u n i t of t h e Na t i ona l Ae ro n au t i c s

and Sp ace Admin i s t r a t i on l oca t ed a t t h e NASA's Langley Research

Cente r, Hampton, Vi rg in ia . The group came i n t o ex is te nc e i n t h e

F a l l of 1958 w i t h s p e c i f i c r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r p u t t i n g a manned

s a t e l l i t e i n t o o r b i t w i t h subsequen t s a f e r e cove ry. h r r i n g t h e y e a r

p r e c e d i ng fo rma t ion of t h e task group, se ve ra l members of t h e

Langley s t a ff had c o n d u c t e d e x p e r i m e n t a l a n d t h e o r e t i c a l s t u d i e s

i n t o problems of manned s pac e f l i g h t .

I . I e ,

I

&

I

D r . T o Keith Glennan, NASA Adminis t ra to r, o rdered that t h e

t a sk group be organ ized , and th e Langley Cente r re le as ed a number

of s c i e n t i s t s t o t h e group . These men formed i t s n u c l e u s . The' S p a c e Task Group i s a com ponen t w hich r e p o r t s d i r e c t l y t o NASA

Space F l i g h t Development i n Washington.

..1. ORGANIZATIONThe group i s headed by a P r o j e c t D l r e c b q R ob er t R. G i l r u t h ,1

who was an A s s i s t a n t D i r e c t o r of the Langley Research Cente r before

he was a p p oi n te d t o h i s ' p r e s e n t p o s t . ' A s s i s t a n t P r o j e c t M r e c t o r, .

i s C har l e s J . Donlan. Pau lE . Purser is S p e c ia l A s s i s t a n t t o the D !r

Chief o f th e Opera t i ons Div is ion i s Char les W. Mathews.

C h a r l e s H.

- I

Maxime A. Fage t heads t h e F l i g h t S y s t e m s D i v i s i o n .

Zirnmerman i s C h i e f o f t h e Eng inee r ing and Con t r ac t Admin i s t r a t i o n

D i v i s i o n .


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(Note: Part V of this pamphlet contains biographies of the

above named scientists.

Scope of the Operations Division includes launching, recovery,

ground support and developmental testing.

The Flight Systems Division conducts work on a parallel w l th -

systems application, and its responsibility involves heat shielding,

structures, navigation, rocket boosters, escape, life support and

systems Integration.*

Area of the work within the Engineering and Contract Adminis-

tration Division is design engineering, specifications, contract

negotiation and contract monitoring,

Continuous informational liaison is maintained with the Defense

Department, through the Advanced Research Projects Agency, and with

the Lovelace Aeromedical Committee.

A l s o withip' the Space Task Group is a staff 'of human-factors

consultants, all of whom have extensive experience in the selection

and training of men for special missions in fields such a s research

air crews and nuclear-propelled submarine crews.

111. FACILITIES AVAILABLE TO IMPLE"T PROGRAM

The Space Task Group is calling on facilities of the NASA,

the Armed Services, universities and industry in the Project Mercury

program.

Much basic and developmental research is being conducted at

NASA centers in aerodynamics, structures, guidance, stability and

control and flight support.

I .


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Human f a c t o r s f a c i l i t i e s i n such f i e l d s as w e i g h t l e s s n e s s

and h ig h a c c e l e r a t i o n and d e c e l e r a t i o n a r e b e i ng f u r n i s h e d by t h e

Department of %fenseeI n d u s t r i a l r e s o u r c e s w i l l f a b r i c a t e t h e c a p s u l e and e q u i p i t

I

f o r i t s f l i g h t . The McDonnell Aircraft Company of S t . Louis ,

M i s so u r i , w a s s e l e c t e d prime c o n t r a c t o r f o r t h e s p ac e ca p su l e i n

J a n u a r y 1959.IV. FUTURF: PROJECTS

I

P r o j ec t Mercu s t on e i n deve lopmen t -o f ~- I - +**- *-

spac e ex p l o r a t i o n t e chn iqu es . Because t h e p r o j e c t i s w i t h o u t p r e -

c e d e n t , y o t im e s ch e du l e c a n be g i v e n f o r a c c o m p l i s h i n g t h e r e q u i r e d

d e v el o pm e n ta l p ro gr am s. L o g i c a l l y, man s i n i t i a l o r b i t a l f l i g h t

#rrrP-nyFmnai,r*w~%e.--.- .. l

w i l l b e f o l l owed by r e s e a r c h t o r e f i n e performance, much t h e same

a s i s done i n a i r c r a f t r e s ea r c h .

Once i t has been conc lu s ive ly demons t r a t ed t h a t man c a n e x i s t_ _ c .-,....-. ------ *e---

i n th e environment of o u t e r sp

w i l l ex t end t o s end ing two men o rb i t , t h en a t e a m . S c i e n t i s t s

f o r e s e e c o n s t r u c t i o n of an o r b i t i n g s p a c e l a b o r a t o r y a n d d e v e l o p -

ment of a method of f e r r y i n g p e r s o n n e l and equipment t o t h i s s t a t i o n .

t i s l i k e l y t h a t the p rogramI- -*e b .-.. - *

- . S Y T *-*%*- >

V. BIOGRAPHIES (To Follow)


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. .. . NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

WASHINGTON 25, D. C.

N A S A RELEASE NO. 59-113EX 3 - 3 2 6 0Ext. 6327

FOR RELEASE:A t Press Conference2 P.M. ThursdayA p r i l 9 , 1959

KERCURY ASTRONA-UT SELECTION FACT SHEET

BACKGROUND

Many of t h e c o n d i t i o n s e x pe ct ed i n o r b i t a l s p a ce f l i g h t

a r e s im i l a r t o t hose expe r i enced by m i l i t a r y t e s t p i l o t s .

NASA, t h e r e f o r e , went t o t h i s f i e l d t o s e e k v o l u n t e e r s f o r

th e Mercu ry a s t r on au t t r a in in g p rog ram. More t han 100 m i l i -t a r y t e s t p i l o t s meet t h e g e n e r a l q u a l i f i c a t i o n s ; of t h e s e ,

69 were i n t e rv i ewed i n Wash ington , D . C . , and 80 p e r c e n t

v o l u n t e e r e d t o p r oc e ed . P e r s on a l c o n s u l t a t i o n s and i n t e r v i e w s

fo l l owed , and t h e l i s t of cand ida t e s was narrowed t o 3 2 .

I n t h i s i n i t i a l phase , and i n t h e f o l l o w i n g s e l e c t i o n

s t e p s , e v a l u a t i o n was e x t r e m e l y d i f f i c u l t b e c a u s e o f t h e

h i g h c a l i b e r a n d m o t i v a t i o n of t h e c a n d i d a t e s . D ur in g t h e

c o u r s e of t h e s e l e c t i o n p r o g r a m it was determined t h a t

seven i s the optimum number of Mercury astronauts s o t h a t

each can have f u l l p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n a l l phases of t h e Mercury

development.

PHYSICAL FITNESS

Immed ia t e ly fo l l owing t h e i r Washington in te rv iews t h e can-

d i d a t e s w e r e a s s i gn e d t o g ro up s, f i v e of s i x men each and one

of two. One group a t a t i m e r e p o r t e d t o t h e L o v e l a c e C l i n i c

i n Albuquerque , N e w Mexico, f o r a n e x h a u s t i v e s e r i e s of exami-


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n a t i o n s . The o t h e r men r e t u r n e d t o t h e i r home s t a t i o n s t o

await th e c a l l f o r t h e i r groups . The f i r s t c o n t i n g e n t e n t e r e d

Lovelace February 7, and t h e o the r s on succeed ing Sa tu rdays .

Each can di da t e spen t seven and one-ha l f days and th re e

evenings a t t h e Lovelace f a c i l i t y .

G e n e r a l p h y s i c a l r equ i r emen t s were e s t a b l i s h e d by t h e

NASA L i f e Sci ences Conunit tee; s in ce a l l those examined a r e

a c t i v e t e s t p i l o t s i t w a s n o t a n t i c i p a t e d t h a t any would b e

d i s q u a l i f i e d as p h y s i c a l l y u n f i t . R a t h e r , degrees of phys i -

c a l soundness were o b t a i n e d a n d e v a l u a t i o n was dependent

upon a comparison of ea ch man t o h i s f e l l o w c a n d i d a t e s .

To e s t a b l i s h a c o mp a ra t iv e y a r d s t i c k , t h e L ov el ac e

program began w i t h a complet e av i a t i on and med ica l h i s -

t o ry and ex t ended t o t h e s e areas:

Hematology and pathology (b lood and s tudy o f t i s s u eRoentgenology (X-ray co ns ul ta t i on s)Ophthamology ( e y e s ) IOtolayngolo y ( e a r s , n o s e a n d t h r o a t )

Card io logy hear t a n d c i r c u l a t i o n )Neurology +.lad Myology (,nerves' and muscles)G e n e r a l i n t e r n a l m e d i c i n eR el at ed l a b o r a t o r y s t u d i e s

S p e c i a l c o n s u l a t i o n s were provided i f i n d i c a t e d b y t h e

c a n d i d a t e ' s m e d i c a l h i s t o r y o r any of t h e g e n e r a l e x a m i n a t i o n s .

These examinat ions were g i v e n u n d e r n orm al c l i n i c a l p r o c e du r e s ,

w h i l e t h e s u b j e c t w a s i n a r e s t i n g c o n d i t i o n . To assess t h e

c a n d i d a t e ' s a b i l i t i e s under load , Lovelace phys ic ians deve lopeda s e r i e s of dynamic t e s t s w h i c h were used f o r t h e f i r s t t ime

i n t h e P r o j e c t Mercury s e l e c t i o n p r o c e s s .

C a p a c i t y unde r l o a d , o r body e f f i c i e n c y, w a s determined

from a c o r r e l a t i o n o f t h e s u b j e c t ' s p h y s i c a l competence w i t h


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his pulmonary function, total body radiation count, specific

gravity of the body, blood volume, water volume, lean body mass

and detection of tiny congenital openings between the chambers

of the heart.

Results of the static and dynamic tes ts were recorded

on special computing cards developed by the Lovelace Clinic

fo r the astronaut program. These cards are mark-sensed so they

may be read directly by the examining physician and contain

the candidate's complete aviation and medical histories and

examination findings.

PSYCHOLOGICAL AND STRESS EVALUATION

The next step in the selection process was a minute

determination of the candidate's psychological makeup and

an estimate of his ability to cope with stresses expected

in space flight.

Basis f o r this part of the selection t o o k into consi-

deration previously developed s tudies made i n anticipation

of the need f o r a program t o select and precondition pilots

fo r extreme high altitude flights. The program was tailored

t o meet the specific requirements foreseen f o r orbital

flight.

The Air Force, with the assistance of Army and Navy

special ists, conducted psychological and s t r e s s measurements

at the Wright Air Development Center Aeromedical Laboratories,

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio. The examina-

tions were in these general areas:


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-4-

P e r s o n a l i t y e v a l u a t i o nB e h a v i o r a l s c i e n c e sS t r e s s and f a t i g u eA c c e l e r a t i u e f o r c e sEqu i l i b r i um and v i b r a t i o nHigh energy noise

Low bar om etr ic p re ss u reT h e r m a l s t r e s sAnthropology

Te s t i n g a t W A X w a s conducted w i t h c a n d i d a t e s i n s i x g ro up s

of f i v e men ea ch an d one group of two. The first group en t e r ed

Feb rua ry 15; each man was e v a l u a t e d s i x d a y s and t h r e e e v e n i n g s .

A complex a p p r a i s a l of b o th c l i n i c a l and s t a t i s t i c a l

t e s t r e s u l t s went i n t o t h e WADC e v a l u a t i o n of c a n d i d a t e s .

A s i n t h e case of t h e Love l ace examina t i ons , r e s u l t s were

n o t a m a t t e r of p a s s i n g or f a i l i n g , but i n s t e a d w e r e measures

of how one c a n d i d a t e compared with a l l o t h e r s .

Because manned s a t e l l i t e f l i g h t i s w i t h o u t p r e c e d e n t ,

Mercu ry a s t ronau t s w i l l b e p i on e er s n o t o nl y i n s pa ce f l i g h t

b u t a l s o i n the development of' a program which w i l l de t e rmine

q u a l i t i e s b e s t s u i t e d f o r s uc h s p e c i a l m i s s i o ns .FINAL SELECTION

Data from the Lovelace and NADC examinat ions were compiled

and forwarded t o t h e NASA S pa ce F l i g h t A c t i v i t y, L an gl ey

F i e l d , near Hampton, Virginia, f o r t h e f o u r t h and f i n a l

s t e p i n t h e s e l e c t i o n p ro ce ss . A t Langley, a g r o u p r e p r e s e n t i n g

b o t h t h e m ed ic al and t e c h n i c a l f i e l d s e v a l u a t e d t h e p r e v i o u s

examina t ions . The s even u l t i m a t e l y s e l ec t e d were chosen as a

r e s u l t of p h y s i c a l , p s y c h o l o g i c a l a n d s t r e s s t o l e r e n c e a b i l i t i e s

and because of t h e p a r t i c u l a r s c i e n t i f i c d i s c i p l e , o r s p ec i a l t y ,

e a c h r e p r e s e n t s .

-END-


11/55

APPENDIX I TO MERCURY ASTRONAUT SELECTION FACT SHEET

C l i n i c a l E x a m i n a t i o n s Given by t h e L ov el ac e C l i n i c

exa min a t i ons and o r t hoped i c or o t h e r s p e c i a l t y c o n s u l ta t i o n s as

i n d i c a t e d .

-M edica l h i s t o r y and p h y s i c a l e x am i na ti on i n c l u d i n g i n t e r n a l

- L a bo ra to ry t e s t s : hemoglobin (measure of oxp;en car ry in . , . red pmzni;); hema toc r i t ( examina t i on o f b lood by u s e of a c e n t r i f u g e ) ;g r oup ing ; Rh f a c t o r ; s e r o l o g y ( e x am i n a ti o n of' b lood s e rum s ) ;s ed i me n ta t i on r a t e ( a n a l y s i s of u r i n e d e p o s i t s ) ; stool examfna-t i o n s ; u r i n a l y s i s ; g a s t r i c a n a l y s i s ; c h o l e s t e r o l ( s u b s t m c e~ r e s z n t n gallstones, hea-5 ~ - 1 r r - . ~ ~ t s ~t c , ) ; l i v e r Cu -nc t i on L c z t ;u r i n a r y s t e r o i d e x c r e t i o n ( m e a s u r e o f t h e hormones, ac id s andp o i s o n s ) ; b l o o d n i t r o g e n ; b l o o d p r o t e i n ; p r ot ei n -b o un d i o d i n e ;s p e c i a l serum s t u d i e s ; t h r o a t c u l t u r e , and chemica l examina t ionof body ou tpu t s , at-3 b l O G d ",ou;!~I;.

-X-rays: c h e s t , l a r g e i n t e s t i n e , s i n u s e s , s p in e , s t o m a c h ,esophagus, t e e t h an d h e a r t . Moving p ic tures were t a k e n o f t h eh e a r t t o d et er mi ne a ny a r t e r y c a l c i f i c a t i o n .

-Eyes: h i s t o r y, d i l a t i o n , v i s u a l f i e l d s , t on om et ry ( me as ur eof i n n e r p r e s s u r e on t h e e y e s ) , s l i t lamp, dynamic v i sua la c u i t y , d e p t h p e r c e p t i o n , n i g h t v i s i o n , and p ho to gr ap hy ofc o n j u n c t i v a l v e s s e l ( e y e membrane) and r e t i n a .

- E a r s , n o s e an d t h r o a t : e x a mi n a ti o n of t h r o a t a nd n a s a lpassag es ; audiogram wi th and wi t hou t background no is es ; speechd i s c r i m i n a t i o n an d v o i c e t a p e r e c o r d i n g .

-Hear t : ca rd iograms o f h e a r t m usc le c o n t r a c t i o n , h e a r ts t r o k e volume and h e a r t sounds; measure of t h e ches t wh icho v e r l i e s t h e h e a r t .

- Ne rves and musc l e s : ge ne ra l neu ro lo g i c examina t ion w i t hm uscle t e s t i n g ; e l e c t r i c s t i m u l a t i o n of t h e n e r ve s to d e t e r m i n er e s p o n s e; m ea su re of a ny n e r v e a b n o r m a l i ty ; t r a c i n g o f e l e c t r i cc u r r e n t s pr od uc ed b y t h e b r a i p

-END-


12/55

A P P E N D I X I1 T O M ER CU RY A S T RO N AU T S E L E C T I O N FA C T S H E E T

S p e c i a l D y n a m i c Examinations Given by the L o v e l a c e C l i n i c

To Measure Body E f f i c i e n c y

-Physical competence: measured by a n ergometer, a d e v i c es i m i l a r to a b i c y c l e . S u b j e c t p e d a l s i n c r e a s i n g a m o u n t of weightwh il e wearing an oxygen mask. Heartbeat and oxygen consumptionde t e rmined . Eva lua t i on i s made by t h e amount s u b j ec t canpeda l by t he t ime h i s h e a r t r e a c h e s 180 b e a t s p e r m i nu t e.

-Pulmonary func t ion : lung c a p a c i t y and brea thr ing e ff ic iencydetermined by measuring the amount of oxygen sub j ec t b r ea thesnormal ly a nd d u r i n g e x c e r c i s e .

-Lean body mass: a c o r r e l a t i o n of t h e f o l l o w i n g :To ta l body r a d i a t i o n coun t , conduct ed by t h e

Atomic Energy Commission Los Alamos L a b o r a t o r i e sto dete rmi ne th e amount of po tassium i n the body.

S p e c i f i c g r a v i t y, w ei gh in g t h e s u b j e c t i n a i r andwhi l e he i s totally immersed i n wat er.Blood volume, measured by i n h a l i n g a s m a l l amount

of carbon monoxide and observing the amount ab -sorbed by t h e blood a f t e r a s p e c i f i e d time.

Water voluxe, determined by swallowing a smallamount& tr i t ium and observing i t s r a t e of d i -l u t l o n .

-P re sence of h e a r t chamber openings: amount of blood oxygeni s measured during and a f t e r a Va ls al va maneuver. The Va ls al vae x e r c i s e i s accompl i shed by b locking t he nose and b lowing i n toa t u b e .

-END-


13/55

A P P E N D I X I11 TO MERCURY ASTRONAUT SELECTION FA C T SHEET

S t r e s s Te s t s Conduc t ed at t h e Wright Air Development Center

every two seconds f o r f i v e m i nu te s t o measure h i s p h y s i c a lf i t n e s s .

-H arvard s t e p : s u b j e c t s t e p s 20 i n c h e s to a p l a t f o r m o n c e

-Treadmi l l maximum work load : su b j ec t wa lk s a t a c o n s t a n tr a t e on a moving platform which i s e l e v a t e d o n e d e g r e e e a c hm in ut e. Te s t c o n t in u e s u n t i l h e a r t r e ac h es 180 b e a t s p e rminu t e . Te s t of p h y s i c a l f i t n e s s .

-Cold p r e s s o r : s u b j e c t p lu ng es h i s f e e t i n t o a t u b of' i c ewate r. Pu l se and b lood p r e s su re measu red be f o r e an6 du r ing t e s t .

-Complex behavior s imula tor : a p a n e l w i t h 1 2 s i g n a l s , e a c hr e q u i r i n g a d i f f e r e n t re s p o n s e. M easu re of a b i l i t y t o r e a c tr e l i a b l y un d er c on f us in g s i t u a t i o n s .

- T i l t t a b l e : s u b j e c t l a y s on s t e e p l y i n c l i n e d t a b l e f o r25 m i nu te s t o m easu re a b i l i t y of t h e h e a r t t o compensate forbody i n a n u n u s u a l p o s i t i o n f o r an ex tended t ime .

- P a r t i a l p r es s ur e s u i t : s u b j e c t i s t a k e n i n p r e s s u r ech am ber t o a si m u l a te d a l t i t u d e of 65,000 f e e t i n an M C 1p a r t i a l p r es su re s u i t . T es t l a s t s one hour. Measure of e f f i -c i e n c y of h e a r t s y s t e m a n d b r e a t h i n g a t l ow amb ien t p r e s su re s .

- I s o l a t i o n : s u b j e c t g oes i n t o a d a r k , soundproof roomf o r t h r e e h o u r s to d e t e r m i n e h i s a b i l i t y t o adap t t o unusua lc i rcumstances and t o cope w i t h t h e absence of e x t e r n a l s t i m u l i .

- A c c e l e r a t i o n : s u b j e c t i s p l a c e d i n a c e n t r i f u g e w it h h i ss e a t i n c l i n e d a t v a r i o u s a n g l e s t o measure h i s a b i l i t y t ow it hs ta n d m u l t i p l e g r a v i t y f o r c e s .

-Heat: s u b j e c t s p e n d s two hours i n a chamber w i t h t h et e m p e r at u r e a t 130 d e g r e e s F a h r e n h e i t t o measu re r eac t i on ofh e a r t and body f u n c t i o n s w h i l e un d e r t h i s s t r e s s .

- E q ui l ib r iu m and v i b r a t i o n : s u b j e c t i s seated on a c h a i rw hic h r o t a t e s s i m u l t a n e o u s l y on two ax es . He i s r e q u i r e d t om a i n t a i n t h e c h a i r on an even keep by means of a c o n t r o l s t i c kw i t h and w i t h o u t v i b r a t i o n , n o r m al l y and w h i l e b l i n d f o l d e d .

-N o i s e : sub j ec t i s exposed t o a v a r i e t y of sound fre-quen c i e s to d et er mi ne h i s s u s c e p t i b i l i t y t o t o n e s of h i g hf r e q u e n c y.

-END-

.. . . ... .. . _ . . . -. . . . . . - . , -


14/55

APPENDIX IV TO MERCURY ASTRONAUT SELECTION FACT SHEET

Psychological Tests Administered b y Wright Air Development C e n t e r

-To determine ersonality and motivation: interviews;Rorschach ( i n k b l o t P; apperception (tell stories suggestedby pictures) ; draw-a-person; sentence completion; se l f - i nv en -t o r y based on 566-item questionnaire; officer effectivenessinventory; personal preference schedule based on 225 pairsof self-descriptive statements; personal inventory based on20 pairs of self-descriptive statements; preference evaluationbased on 52 statements; determination of authoritorian attitudes,and interpretation of the question, "Who am I?".

-To determine intelligence and special aptitudes:Wechsler adult scale; Miller analogies; Raven matrices;Doppelt mathematical reasoning test; engineering analo-gies; mechanical comprehension; officer qualificationt e s t ; aviation qualification test; space memory; spatialorientation; hidden figures perception; spatial visuali-zation, and peer ratings.

APPENDIX V TO MERCURY ASTRONAUT SELECTION FACT SHEET

Members of NASA Life ScieRzes Committee

Chairman, Dr. W . Randolph Lovelace 11, Director of the LovelaceFoundation fo r Medical Education and Research, Albuquerque, NewMexico; Members: Capt. Norman L. Barr, (MC) Director, Astronautical

Division, Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Washington, D. C.;LCdr. John H. Ebersole, (MC) Medical Officer, USS Seawolf, FleetPost Office, New York, New York; E3rig. Gen. Donald D. Flickinger,(MC) , Surgeon and Assistant Deputy Commander for Research, Headquarters,Air Research and Development Command, Washington, D. C. ; Lt . Col.Robert H. Holmes, (MC) Chief of Bio Physics and Astronautics Branch,Army Medical Research and Development Command, Washington, D. C.;Dr. Wright H. Langham, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, Universityof California; Dr. Robert B. Livingston, Director of Basic Researchin Mental Health and Neurological Diseases, National Institutes ofHealth, Bethesda, Maryland; and Dr. Orr Reynolds, Director of Science,Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research andEngineering, Washington, D. C. Boyd C. Myers 11, NASA Headquarters,

i s secretary of t h e c o m m i t t e e .- END -


15/55

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

WA S H I N O TO N 2 % 0 . C.

MALCOLM SCOTT CARPENTERPrc ect Mercury Ast ronau t

BICSRAPHY

Malcolm S. Carpen t e r, a l i e u t en a n t i n t h e U , S , Navy, was bornMay 1, 1925 , i n B ou ld er ColoraCo. He now l i v e s a t 11911 T i m y Lane,Garden @roveg Ca l i fo rn i a . H i s mother i s l i v i n g i n Bvuldeli a t 5335Brosdway. Carpenter 's f a t he r, a y e t i r e d c h e m i s t , l i v e s ir, P a l m e rLake, Coio. His w i f e i s t h e fo rmer Rene L o u i s e P r i c e , whose p a r e n t s ,M r . an d Mrs, Lyle S , P r i c e , l i v e a t 963 N i n th S t r e e t , B o u ld e r. The7 a r p e n t e r f s h av e r o u p c h i l d r e n : Mark S c o t t , 9 ; R ~ b y n ay, 7; K r i s t e nE l a i n e , 3; and Candace Nclxon, 2. C a rp e n t e r i s f i v e f e e t 102 i n c h e st a l l , wefghs 160 poul?ds, and has g r e e n e y e s and brown h a i r ,

U t e ? r e c e i v i 2 g hi s early e d u c a t i o n t h r cugh high s c ho o l i nBou lde r, Ca rpen t e r en t e r e d C ~ l o x d o o l le g e i n 1943 t o p s n t i c i p a t ei n t h e V -5 f 'i ig h% t r a i n i n g p o g r a m s po ns or ed by t h e U.S, Navy. Afte ra y e a P t h e m , he spen t six ~ c n t h s n t r a i n i n g a t St. Mary's p r e -f l i g h t schcml, Moxga, C a l i f . , aiid f o u r months i n primary f l i g h tt r a i n i n g a t O t t w n w a , Iowa. When t h e V -5 p m g r a n e n d e d a t the c l o s eof World Wa r 11, Carpen$e,-, eii ter3d t h e Un i ve r s i t y o f Co lo rado t o

i n a e r o n a u t i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g . H e r e c e i v e d a d eg re e t h e r e i n

Folloiving h i s g r adua t i o n , C a r p e E t e r j o i n e d t h e Navy and re -c e i v e d f l i g h t . t r a i n i n g from Ncvcmber, 1949, to Apsi1, 1951, a tPensacoSa, FLorl.de, and Corpus C h r i s t i , Texas. H e spent three monthsi t 7 t h e Fleet A i r b o m e Elect ror l ics Tr a i n i n g S C h O O l , San Diego, Cali f Jan d, u n t i l Oc to be r, 11951, i n a Lockheed P2V t r a n s i t i o n a l t r a i n i 9 . gu n i t

a tWhidbey Island, Washington.

In November, 1951, he was a s s i g n e d t o P a t r o l Squadron 6 baseda t Barbers P o i n t , H a w a i i . Dur ing t h e Korean co n f l i c t , he was en-gaged w i t h P a t r o l Squadron 6 i n a n ti - su b m ar i ne patrol, s h i p p i n gs u r v e i l l a n c e and a e r i a l mining a c t i v i t i e s i n t h e Yellow Sea9 SouthChina Sea and t h e Formosa S t r a i t s .PiloC, School a t t h e Naval A i r Tes t Cen te rg Pa tuxen t Rlver, Md,> an da f t e r completdon of h i s t r a i n i n g , was a ss ig ne d t o t h e e l e c t r o n i c st e s t d l v i s f o n of t h e NATC. In t h i s a s s ignmen t Ca rpen t e r cos?_ductedf l i g h t t e s t p r o j e c t s w i t h the A3D, F l l F and F9F an d a s s i s t e a i nother f l i g h t t e s t programs. He t h e n a t t e n d e d th e Navy's General.Line School a t Mo;?terey, C a l i f , , fo r 10 months an d t h e Naval A i r

I n t e l l i g e n c e School, Washington, D,C,, f o r a f'urther eight months,I n August, 1958, he was assigned t o th e USS Hornet , ant i -submarinea i r c r a f t carries?, as a i r i n t e l l i g e n c e o f f i c e r . H e has accumulatedmore t h m 2,800 f l y i n g h ou rs , i n c l u d i n g 300 i n j e t a i r c r a f t .

I n 1954 he e n t e r e d t h e N a v y T e s t

H i s h o bb i es i n e l u d e s k i n d i v i ng , archery a n d w a t e r - s k i i n g .


16/55

WASHINGTON ZS, D. C.

LEROY GORDON COOPER, JR.P r c j e c t Mercu ry As t rmau t

\

EI34RAPHY

ii

Leray G. Cooper, J r . , a c a p t a i n i n t h e U .S. A i r F o ~ c e , w ~ sborn March 6, 1927, i n Shawnee, Oklahma. He i s f i v e f e e t , 9-2i n c h e s t a l l and weighs 150 pounds. The 32-year-o ld a s t rc n au thas blue eyes and brown h a i r.d s l e , Cclorado, where h i s p a r e n t s , C o l . and K r s , Lercy G . Cooper,have a ran ch , Colone l Cooper i s r e t i r e d f rom t h e A f r r 'o rce . H i swife i s t h e fo rmer Trudy Olson of Sea t t l e , Wash ing ton , The co up l ehas two d a u g h t e r s , Canala K., 10, a n d J a n i t a L., 9.

He c o n si d e r s as h i s hometown Carbon-

Coaper a t t e n d e d prima.ry a r d . secondary sc l i ca l s I n Shawnee, aridhe a t t e n d e d t h e I J n i v e r s i t , y o f H a w a i i t h r e e y e a r s , He r e c e i v e d a

d e g re e i n a e r o n a u t i c a l e n g in e er i n g t h r ou g h t h e A i r F o r c e I c s t i t u t eof Technology a2 Wrigh t -Pa t t e r son A i r Force Base, Ohio, i n A xg ust ,3.956.

Co op e r en t e r ed t h e Marine Cc;?..ps i , n _ 1945 a f t e r h i s g r a t l u a t i mfrom h igh school .&nd was a m e m b e r of t h e P r e s i d e n t i a l Honor Gusrd i n Washing to ni m n e d i a t e l y b e f o r e h i s d i s c h a r g e i n A ugu st, 1946, While at %?!eU n i v e r s i t y of H a w a i i , h e r e c e i v e d a commission i - n t h e Amy. Eet r a n s f e r r e d t h i s commission t c t h e Air Force and was r e c a l l e d byt k a t s e r v i c e for ex tended acC,ive da ty i n 1949 f c r f l i g h t t r a i n i n g .A f t e r h i s t r a i n i n g , h e was a s s i g n e d t o t h e 8 6 t h F i g h t e r B5;mber G m ~ pi n Munich, Germany, as ax F-84, and l a t e r , an F-86 p i l o t . A

h i s g r a d u a t i o n from AFIT, he was a s s i g n e d t o t h e A i r Force ExpeFl-m e n t a l F l i g h t Te s t S?kiool a t Edwsrds A i r Force Base, C a l i f , Hew a s g r a d u a t e 3 fro m t h i s s ch o ol i n A p r il , 1957, and was a s s i g n e ddu t y i n t h e Pe r fo rmance Eng inee r i ng Branch of t h e F l i g h t Te s tD i v i s i o n a t Edwards. H e conducted f l i g h t t e s t s o n e x p e r i n e n t a lf i g h t e r a i r c r a f t , Cooper has 2,300 f l y i n g h ou rs , i n c l u d i n g 1,439i n j e t s .

H e a t t e n d e d t h e Naval Academy Preparatoqr Schml.

H i s h o b bi e s a r e p ho to gr ap hy, r i d i n g , h u n t i n g an d f i s h i n g ,


17/55

WASHINOTON 25 . D.C.

JOHN HERSCHEL GLENN, JR.Projec t Mercury As t ronaut

BIOGRAPHY

John H. Glenn, J r . , a l i e u t e n a n t c o l on e l i n th e U , S .Marine Corps, was b o r n J u l y 18, 1921, i n Cambridge, Ohio.H e c o n s i d e r s N e w Concord, O . , h i s permanent home. H e a t t e n d e dpr imary and h i g h s c h o o ls i n N e w Concord, and Muskingwn Co ll eg e,H i s p a r e n t s a re Mr, an d Mrs. John H. Glenn, The e l d e r Glenni s a r e t i r e d o p e r a t o r o f a plumbfng and hea t ing bus iness . M r s .Glenn i s the former Anna Margaret Cas to r, daugh te r o f D r . andMrs. H. W. Castor. The e l d e r Glenns and Cas tors a l l l i v e onBloom field Road i n N e w Concord. The Glenns have t w o c h i l d r e n :John David, 13, and Carolyn Ann, 12 , Glenn a l s o has a s i s t e r ,Mrs. Jean P inks ton , o f Cambridge, He i s f i v e f e e t , 104 i n c h e st a l l , weighs 180 pounds and has green eyes and red h a i r .

Glenn en t e r ed t h e n a v a l a v i a t i o n c a d e t program i n March, 1942.H e was graduat ed and commissioned i n t h e Marine Corps a y e a rl a t e r . A f t e r a d v a n c e d t r a i n i n g , he j o i n e d Marine F i g h t e r Squadron155 and spen t a yea r f l y i n g FI4U f i g h t e r s i n t he Marshall I s l a n d s .During h i s World Way I1 s e r v i c e , he flew 59 combat missions.A f t e r t h e war, he was a member of Fighter Squadron 218 on NorthC h i n a p a t r o l a n d had d u t y i n Guam. From Ju ne, 1948, t o December,1950, he was a n i n s t r u c t o r i n adv ance t r a i n i n g a t Corpus C h r i s t i ,Texas, Glenn then at tended Amphibious Warfare School a t Quan t i co ,V a. In Korea , he f lew 63 m i s s i o n s w i t h Marine F i g h t e r Squadron311 and 27 whi le a n e x c h a n g e p i l o t w i t h t h e A i r Force , I n t h e

l a s t n i n e d a y s o f f i g h t i n g i n Korea., he downed t h r e e M i G B s ncombat along t h e Yalu River. A f t e r Korea, Glenn at te nd ed t e s tp i l o t s c h o o l a t t h e Naval A i r T e s t Cen te r, Pa tuxen t R ive r, Md.A f t e r g r a d u a t i o n , he was p r o j ec t o f f i c e r on a n u m b e r o f a i r c r a f t ,I n c l u d i n g t h e F8U, F ~ W- 1 nd F8U-P. Since November, 1956, hehas b ee n a s s i g n ed t o t h e F i g h t e r Design Branch of t h e Navy Bureauo f Ae ronau t i c s i n Washing ton,

Glenn has been awarded t h e Dis t i ngu i shed F ly ing Cros s onf i v e o c c a s i o n s a n d he h o l d s t h e Air Medal w i t h 18 C l u s t e r s f o rh i s se rv i ce du r ing Wor ld War I1 and Korea, I n J u ly , 1957, whi lep r o j ec t o f f i c e r of t h e F8U, he s e t a t r a n s c o n t i n e n t a l s p e e dreco rd f rom Los Angeles t o N e w York, spanning t h e c o u n t ry i n

th ree h o u r s p 2 3 minutes. He has moye t h a n 5,000 h o u r s o f f l y i n gtime, i n c l u d i n g 1,500 h ou rs i n J e t a i r c r a f t . Glenn has beena t t e n d i n g t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f Maryland during h i s Washington a s s i g n -ment *

The Glenn f a m i l y hobb ie s a re b o a t i n g a n d water s k i i n g .


18/55

NATIONALAERONAUTICSAND SPACE ADMINISTRATIONWASHINOTON 25 , 0. E.

7J13GIL IVAN SRISSOMProjec t Mercury As t rongut

BIOGRAPI-TJI

V i r g l l I. Grissorn, a c a p t a i n i n t h e U. S . A i r Force, was bornA;rii 3 , 1326, ir! R i i t ch e l l , I n d i a n a . F i v e f e e t , s e ve n i n c h e s t a l l ,ho weighs 155 pow,ds a d as brown eyes and brown h a i r . H i s pa-r e $ ~ ~ , r. and Mrs. Dennis D. Grissom, l i v e a t 715 Baker St.,f E t c h e l 1 . Me has two brothers , Norman, of Mi tc he l l , and Lowel l ,FA sophomore a t In d i an a UrAversi ty, and a s i s t e r , Mrs. Joe Beav e r sof' S r l t i m o r e . Mrs. Grissorr! i s t h e former B e t t y L. Moore. Herfa th er , Claude Moore, l i v e s i n M i t c h e l l . Her mother i s deceased .The Orissoms have two sons, S c o t t , 3 , and Mark, 5.

Grissom e t t e n d e d p r im a r y a nd h i g h s c h o o ls i n M i t c h e l l an d w a sgrat?uated from Purdue U n i v e r s i t y w i t h a deg ree i n rxechanical engi-n e e r i n g i n 1950.

Y e f i r s t e n t e r e d t h e Air For>se n 19411 as an a v i a t i o n c a de t .?e was discharged i n November, l345 . He r e tu rn ed t o av i a t i on c a d e tt r a l x i n g a f t e r h i s G ra du at i on from Purdue, and he r e c e i v e d h i s wingsi n !vIarch, 1951. Grissom j o i n e d t h e 75th F i g h t e r - I n t e r c e p t o r S q u a d -,-on a t P r e q u e I s l e , Ne., as an !?-86 f i g h t e r p i l o t . He f l ew 100combat missions i n Korea i n F - 8 6 1 ~ i3 h t h e 334th F i s h t e r I n t e r -cep5Qoti Squadron. H e l e f t Korea i n j un e , 1352 and became a p i l o tinstructor a t Bryan, Tex. Ir, August, 1955, he went t o t h e AirForce I n s t i t u t e of Technology a t Wi g h t - P a t t e r s o n A i r Force Base,Ohio, t o s t u d y a e r o n a u t i c a l e n g i n ee r i n g . I n O ct ob er , 1956 her $ t e n d e d t e s t p i l o t s choo l at Edwards Air Force Base, C a l i f . , andr e t u r n e d t o Wrigh t -Pa t t e r son AFT3 i n May, 1957, as a. t e s t p i l o tassigned t o t h e Figh t e r B ranch .o v e r 2,000 in j e t s .

H e has flown more thizn 5,000 hours ,

Grissom has been awarded t h e D i s t i n g u i s h e d F l y i n g Cross andh2r Medal w i t h C l u s t e r .

His h obb i e s a r e h u n t i n g a n d f i s h i n g .


19/55


WALTER MARTY SCHIRRA, JR.Projec t Mercury As t ronaut

BIOGRAPHY

J r . , a l i e u t en a n t commander i n1923, i n Hackensack, N e w J e r s e y.

The 36-yea r-o ld a s t ronau t i s f i v e f e e t , 10 i n c h e s t a l l , weighs 185pounds, an d has brown h a i r and brown. eyes , H i s p a r e n t s , M r . andMrs. Wal te r M . Sc h i r r a , r e s i de i n Honolulu, Hawai i, where t h e e l d e rS c h i r r a i s a c i v i l e n g i n e e r w i t h t h e A i r Force . The s e n i o r S c h i r r awas a World War I ace in t h e Army A i r Corps. After t h e warg he andh i s wife ba rnsto rmed th roughou t t he Eas t e rn Un it ed S t a t e s i n a l l g h tp l a n e . The a s t r o n a u t ' s w i f e i s t h e fo rmer Jo seph ine C. F r a s e r a fS e a t t l e , Washington. The couple has two c h i l d r e n : Wa l t e r 111, 8,and Suzanne Karen, 1. M r s , S c n i r r a i s t h e daugh te r o f M r s . James L,

Holloway, wife of Admiral Ii ol hn ?ay J who was cormnander-in-chief oft h e N o r t h ea s t er n A t l a n t i c and M e di t er r an e an a r e a . S c h i r r a a l s o hasa s i s t e r , Mrs. John H. BurhansB who l i v e s i n P a tu xe nt R i ve r, Md.

S c h i r r a a t t e n d e d p r i m a r y 3.nd junior h i g h s c ho o ls i n O r ad e ll ,N. J. H e was g r a d u a t e d f ro m D w i g h t Morrow High School, ~ g l e w o o d ,N. J . , i n 19~+~3, m3 a t t e n d e d N e w a r k (N.J.) Col lege of Engineer ingone yea r, H e was grad.dated from t h e U. S. Naval Academy i n 1945.

S c h i r r a h a s h ad s e r v i c e on board t h e b a t t l e c r u i s e r A laska, t h es t a f f of t h e S eventh F l e e t , f l i g h t t r a i n i n g a t Pensacola , in a Navyf i g h t e r squadron (71), and as an exhange p i l o t w i t h t h e 154th U , S .A i r Force F i g h t e r B o m b e r Squadron, H e went w i t h this squadron t o

Korea where h e f l e w 90 combat mi s s fons i n F-84E a i r c r a f t .one MIG and has one probable MIG, H e t ook p a r t i n development of' t h eS i d e w in d e r m i s s i l e a t C hina L ake, C a l i f . H e was p r o j e c t p i l o t f o rt h e F7U-3 C u t l a s s an d i n s t r u c t o r p i l o t f o r t h e C u t l a s s a n d F J3 Fury.H e f l e w F3H-2N Demons a s o p e r a t i o n s o f f i c e r of F i g h t e r S qu ad ro n 1 2 4on board t h e c a r r i e r L e xi ng to n i n t h e P a c i f i c .Naval a i r s a f e t y o f f i c e r s c ho ol a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f Sou the rnC a l i f o r n i a , a n d t e s t p i l o t t r a i n i n g a t t h e N aval A i r T e s t Cen te r,Pa tuxen t , Md. H i s l a s t a s s i g m e n t w a s a t Pa tuxent i n s u f t a b i l i b ydevelopment work on t h e F4H. H e h as 3,000 hour s o f f l y i n g time, 1,700h o ur s i n j e t s .

H e downed

He th en at te nd ed

H e has been awarded t h e D i s t i n g u i s h e d F l y i n g C ro ss and 'two A i rM e d a l s f o r h i s Korean serv ice .


20/55

NATIONA L A&RONAUTlCS AN D SPACE ADM INISTRATION

WASUINO1ON 25, D.C.

A L A N BARTLETT WFPAHD, J R .Pro jec t Mercury As t ronau t

BIOGRAPHY

Alan B. Shcpar.rJ. Jr., a l icutenant commander i n t h e U.S.Navy, was b o r n Novo 23, 1923, i n E a s t De rr y, New Ha mps hire .T h e 3 5 - y e a r- o l d a s t r o n a u t i s f i v e f e e t , 11 i n c h e s t a l l , weighs160 pounds and has b l u e e y e s and. brown h a i r .Col. and Mrs. Alan B. Shepar4 , l i v e i n East Derry where t h ee l d e r S h e p a r 4 , a r e t i r e d A r m y o f t h e United S t a t e s o f f i c e r , i san 1r isurance broker. Sheyard 1 s m a r r i e d t o t h e f o r m e r LouiseBrewer o f Kennet t S q u a r e , Pa. The couplc has two daughte rs ,J u l i m a , 8, an4 .TJ3ura, 1 2 , Siiep*wd's sister, Mrs. P a u l i n e S .Sherman, res-idc:; i n f " l~ ; i t , s . i~ i ! r, Ne x J e r s e y.

g r a d u a t e d from Pirilccrtcin Schoo! , Dcri-y, N . X . , i n 1glCO. Hes t u d j c d one year a t Admiral F - i r r a g u t A.cademy, Toms R i v e r, N . J . ,a n 5 t h e n e n t e r e d tix Navrzl Acrdrmy, Annapo2is . ile was g r a d u a t e dfrom Annapol is i n 1944.College, Newport, R . I . , i n 1958.

H i s p a r e n t s ,

Shepard ;' ttcn ,Jec! p r i r r ~ r y ,chool I n East Derry and wa s

:e m..: zraduated from the N a v a l War

T h e a s t r o n a u t saw s e r v i c e o n t h e d e s t r o y e r C os gro ve , i nt h e P a c l f i c C u r i n g T,lorld War 11.a t Corpus C h r i s t i , Texas, and P e n s a c o l a , F l o r i d a , He r e c e i v e dh ? s w irlgs i n March, 1947. S u b s e q u e n t s e r v i c e was i n F i g h t e rSquadron 42 a t the Nor fo lk Nava l A j r S t a t i o n and J a c k s o n v i l l e ,F l o r i d a . H e a l s o spen t s e v e r a l t o u r s i n t h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n .Shepard wen t t o t e s t p l l o t s c h o o l a t P a t u x e n t R i v e r, Ivld., ands e r v e d tw o t o u r s i n f 3 i e ; h t t e s t t h e r e .took p a r t i n h i g h a l t i t u d e t e s t s t o o b t a i n da ta o n l i g h t a td i f f e r e n t a l t i t u d e s and i n a v a r i e t y o f a i r m a s s e s o v e r t h e NorthAmer ican con t inen t .and development of t h e Navy's i n - f l i g h t r e f u e l i n g s ys te m; c a r r i e rs u i t a b i l i t y t r i a l s of t h e F2H3 Bansh ee, and Navy t r i a l s o f t h ef i r s t a n g l e d c a r r i e r deck.Pa tuxen t , Shepard ?Jas a s s i g n e d t o F i g h t e r Squadron 193 a t M o ff e t tF i e l d , C a l i f o r n i a , a n i g h t f i g h t e r u n i t f l y i n g B anshe e j e t s . Hewas o p e r a t i o n s o f f i c e r o f t h i s squadron and made t w o t o u r s w i t hi t t o t h e We s t e r n P a c i f i c o n b o a r d t h e c a r r i e r O r i s k a n y. H e hasb e en e n ga ge d i n t h e t e s t o f t h e F3H Demon, F8U Crusader, F4DS k yr a y a nd F l l F Ti g e r c a t . He was p r o j e c t t e s t p i l o t on t h e F5DSkyLancer.i i i s t r u c t o r i n t h e test p i l o t sc!:oa1. A f t e r his g r a d h a t i o n fr.omt h e Naval War Col lege , Shepard j o i n e d t h e s t a f f o f t h e commander-i n - c h i e f , A t l a n t i c F l e e t , as a i r c r a f t r e a d i ne s s o f f i c e r . He has3,600 hours o f f l y i n g t im e, 1,700 i n j e t s .

He t he n e n t e r ed f l y i n g t r a i n i n g

During t h i s s e r v i c e , h e

H e a l s o t o o k p a r t i n e x p er i me n ts i n t e s t

Between h i s f l i g h t t e s t t o u r s at

The l a s t f i v e months a t Patuxent were s p e n t as an

Shepard ' s hobbies a r e g o l f , i c e s k a t i n g a nd water s k i i n g ,


21/55

WASHINOTON 25 , 0 . C.

DONALD KENT SLAYTONPro j ec t M e r cu ry As t ronau t

BIOGRAPHY

Donald K , S l a y t o n , a c a p t a i n i n t h e U. S , A i r Force, was bornMarch 1, i924j n Spa r t a , Wi sconsin. The 35 -yea r-o ld a s t ron a u t i sf i v e f e e t , 102 i n c h e s tall, weighs 160 pounds and has b lue eyes andbrown ha i r. H i s p a r e n t s , M r . and Mrs, Char les S. S la yt on , l i v e i nS p a r t a . A brother, Howard, and sister, Mrs. Lyndahel Hagen, a l s ol i v e i n S p a r t a . S l a y t c n ' s i m m e d i a t e f a m i l y a l s o i n c l u d e s a brotherRichard , of San J o s e , C a l i f e ; an ot he r br ot he r, Elwood, and two s i s -t e r s , Mrs, Milton Madsen and Mrs. Harold Schluenz, a l l of Madisor,.H i s w i fe 1 s the fo rmer Mar jor ie Lunney, dau ght e r of M r . and Mrs.George Lunney of Los Angeles , Ca l i f . The Slay tons have one son,Kent, 2 ,

Slayton att,e.nded primary and h i g h s c h o ol s i n S p a r t a , g r a d u a t i n g

f r o m S p a r t a High S c h m i i n 1942 .n e s o t a i n J anua ry, 1947, and was graduat ,ed w i t h a degree i n a e ro -n a u t i c a l e n g i ne e r i ng i n A ugust, 1949.

Ile e n t e r e d t h e U n i v e r s i t y of Min-

H e e n t e r e d t h e A i r Force as a n a v i a t i o n c a de t i n 1942 a n d a f t e ri n s t r u c t i o n a t Vernon, Tex,, and W i l l i a m s , Ariz., won h i s wings i nA p r i l , 19430t h e 340th Bombardment Group (Medium). I n mid-1944, h e r e t u r n e d t ot h i s c o u t n t r y a s a B-25 i n s t m c t o r pilct a t Columbia, S.C,, and t h e ns e r v e d w i t h a u n i t c hec ki ng o u t p i l o t s i n t h e A-26. He j o i n e d w i t h319th Bombardment Group (Medium) and went t o Okinawa i n Ap ri l , 1945,where h e f l e w seven combat miss ions over Japan , H e was a n i n s t r u c t o rp i l o t i n B - 2 5 a i r c r a f t , f o r a bo ut a y e a r a f t e r t h e war, Following

h i s g r ad u a t i on f rom t h e U n i v e r s i t y of Minnesota, he was an aer ona u-t i c a l e n g i ne er w i t h B o e i n g A i r c r a f t Co o i n S e a t t l e , Washington,u n t i l r e c a l l e d i n e a r l y 1951 t o a c t i v e d u t y w i t h t h e A i r N a t i o n a lGuard , i n which h e main t a ined members hip du r i ng h i s s t u de n t days a tt h e Un i v e r s i t y o f Minneso t a, On h i s r e c a l l , he was assigned t oMinneapol i s a s m a i n t e n a n c e f l i g h t t e s t o f f i c e r of' an F-51 squadron ,H e t h e n s p e n t a year and one-half a t 1 2 t h A i r Force Headqua rt e r s a st e c h n i c a l i n s p e c t o r , an d a l i k e p e r i o d a s f i g h t e r p i l o t and main-t e n a n c e o f f i c e r w i t h t h e 3 6 t h F i g h t e r Day Wing i n Bi tbur g , Germany,H e r e t u r n e d t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i n J un e o f 1955 and a t t ended t h e A i rF orce F l i g h t Te s t P i l o t S c h o o l a t Edwards A i r Force Base, C a l i f ,S i nc e J a nua ry, 1956, he has been an expe r imen t a l t e s t p i l o t a t Edwards,where h e has f l o w n a l l j e t f i g h t e r t yp e a i r c r a f t built f o r t h e A i r

F o r c e , H i s last assignment was c h i e f of F i g h t e r S e c t i o n A , He h as3,400 f l y i n g h o u r s , 2,000 i n j e t s ,

H e f lew 56 combat mi ssi on s i n B - 2 5 ' ~ n Europe w i t h

S l a y t o n h o l d s t h e Air Medal w i t h C l u s t e r ,

His h o b b i e s a re h u n t i n g , f i s h i n g , s h o o t i n g , a r c h e r y, p h o t o g -r aph y a nd sk i i ng .


22/55

- NATIONAL AERONAUTICSAND SPACE

WASHINOTON 2S , D . C .

ADMINISTRATION

Thursday, 9 A p r i l 1959

2:OO porn.

W

T h e p r e s s conference w a s c a l l e d t o o r de r a t 2 : OO porn.,Mr. Walter T. Bonney p r e s i d i n g .

PRESENT :

WALTER T o BONNEY, P r e s i d i n g .

DR. T. KEITH GLENNAN

DR. W . R. LOVELACE, I I

BR IG, GENERAL DONALD D. FLIC KIN GER

CAPTAIN NORMAN BARR, U.S.N.

ROBERT R e GILRUT H

CHARLES J. I)OMLAN

ASTRONAUTS:

LT. MALCOLM S o CARPENTEE, U.S. Navy.

CAPTAIN LEROY G. COOPER, JR . , U.S. A i r Force.

LT. COL. JOHN H. GLENN, J R . , U. S. Marine C o r p s .

C A P TA I N V I R G I L 1. G R IS SO M , U .S . A i r Force.

LT. COAWAMDER WALTER M. SCHIRRA, U.S. Navy.

LT. COYlldANDER ALAN B. SHEPARD. U. S , N a v y.

CAPTAIN DONALD K O SLAYTON, U. S. A i r Force.

- - -


23/55

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION


2. . . - ., I . . .. ..

.. . . . . . - . -. ..- .

. .

MERCURYASTRONAUT TEAM

MR, BONNEY: L a d i e s and gentlemen, may I have youra t t e n t i o n , p l e a s e .

The r u l e s f o r t h i s b r i e f i n g are v e r y s i m p l e . In a b o u ts i x t y s ec on ds w e w i l l g i v e yo u t h e announcement t h a t you havea l l b e e n w a i t i n g f o r : t h e names of t h e s even vo lun t ee r s whow i l l become t h e Mercury Astronaut Team.

Fo l l owing t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n of t h e k i t -- and t h i s w i l lW e w i l l have

be done as s p e e d i l y as p o s s i b l e -- t h o s e of you who have P.M.d e a d l i n e p rob l ems had b e t t e r dash f o r your phones.about a t e n o r t w e l v e m i n u t e b r e a k d u r i n g w h i c h t h e gent lemenw i l l be a v a i l a b l e f o r p i c t u r e t a k i n g . There w i l l be no t a l k ,however. Then w e w i l l reconvene , hoping t h a t t h e P.M. boyshave done t h e i r f i l e and c o m e b a c k and s t a r t t h e p r e s e n t a t i o na n d t h e I t & " and IIA1l.

VOICE: Oner*question. What t i m e are you g o i n g t o

s t a r t ?

MR, BONNEY: I n a bo u t t h i r t y se co nd s.

QUESTION: About w h a t t i m e w i l l you s t a r t t h e "Q" andt1 A113

MR. BONNEY: About tw elv e minu tes a f t e r t h e d i s t r i b u t i o nof t h e p r e s s k i t s . There w i l l be a p r e s e n t a t i o n b y t k s e v e r a lgen t l e m en i nvo lved , fo l lowed by t h e ,Qt* and l*Atqe

I t i s now 2:OO o * c l o c k . P l e a s e d i s t r i b u t e t h e p r e s sk i t s .

Gen t l emen , t he se are t h e A s tr o n au t v o l u n t e e r s . Takey ou r p i c t u r e s a s you w i l l , gent lemen.

(There w a s a s h o r t r e c e s s f o r p i c t u r e t a k i n g . )


24/55

3

MR, BONNEP: L a d i e s a n d gent lemen, i t i s my v er y r e a lp l e a s u r e t o i n t r o d u c e t o you t h e Admi n i s t r a t o r of t h e NationalA e r on a u tc s and Space Adm in i s t r a t i on , D r . T . Kei th Glennan .

DR. GLENNAN: La di es and gent lemen: Today w e a rei n t r o d u c i n g t o you and t o t h e w o r l d t h e s e seven men who have beens e l e c t e d t o b e g i n t r a i n i n g f o r o r b i t a l s pace f l i g h t .

T h es e men, t h e n a t i o n s a P r o j e c t M ercury A s t r o n a u t s , a r ehe re a f t e r a long and pe rhaps unp receden t ed s e r i e s o f e v a l u a t i o n sw h ich t o ld our m e d i c a l c o n s u l t a n t s a n d s c i e n t i s t s of t h e i rs u p e r b r a d a p t a b i l i t y t o t h e i r coming f l i g h t .

Which of t h e se men w i l l be f i r s t t o o r b i t t h e e a r t h ,I c a n n o t t e l l you . H e w o n 't know h i m s e lf u n t i l t h e day o f t h e

f l i g h t ,The A s t r o n a u t t r a i n i n g p ro gr am w i l l l a s t p rob a b ly t w o

y e a r s . During t h i s t i m e our u r g e n t goa l i s t o s u b j e c t t h e s egent lemen t o e v e r y s t r e s s , each unusua l env i ronmen t t hey w i l le x p e r i e n c e in t h a t f l i g h t .

Before t h e f i r s t f l i g h t w e w i l l have deve loped o u rMe rc u ry space sh ip t o t h e p o i n t w h e r e i t t i l l be a s r e l i a b l eas man can devise . W e e x p e c t i t t o be a s r e l i a b l e as anye x p e r i m e n t a l a i r c r a f t .

I t i s my p l e a s u r e t o i n t r o d u c e t o you and I c o n s i d e ri t a very r e a l honor, gen t lemen, f r o m your r i g h t , M a l c o l m S .Carpe n t e r ; Le roy G . Cooper ; John H. Glenn, J P . ; V i r g i l I . G r i s s o m ;Walter M. S c h i r r a , J r , ; Alan B . Shepard , J r . ; and Donald R. S l a y t o na re t h e n a t i o n ' s M e r c u r y A s t r o n a u t s .

(Applause.

MR. BONNEY: There w i l l be o t h e r o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o rp i c t u r e t a k i n g l a t e r i n t h e a f t e r n o o n . Now i f w e can move on,I would l i k e t o I n t r o d u c e f i v e g e nt le m en who have had a ' v e r yi m p o r t a n t p a r t in t h e s e l e c t i o q 7 p r s c e s s and In t h e p l a n n i n g tod a t e . I i n t r o d u c e t h e m n o t i n t h e o r d e r th ey w i l l be s p e a k i n gto you but in the way it is written down for me here,

D r . Randolph Lovelace, Cha irm an o f t h e NASA L i f eS c i e nc e s Committee.

B r i g a d i e r G e n e r a l Do nald F l i c k i n g e r o f t h e A i r F orc e ,


25/55

a n d C a p t a i n N o r m a n B a r r , of t h e Navy. They h a v e had t h e r e s p o n s i -b i l i t y f o r t he s e l e c t i o n p r i m a r i l y i n t h e aero-medical f i e l d .

Also, Robert G i l r u t h , Direc to r of Pro j ec t Mer c u r y

and of t h e Space Task Group t h a t i s working o n t h i s p r o j e c t .

C h ar le y D on la n, h i s a s s i s t a n t .

Now, I would wouPd l i k e t o c a l l upsn Bob GiPru th t osa y a f e w words.

MR. GILRUTLI: L a d i e s and gent lemen: P am d e l i g h t e d t ob e he r e on t h i s o c c a s io n . I am s u r e you a re al l f a m i l i a r w i t ht h e o b j e c t i v e s of P r o j e c t Mercury. H don't i n t e n d t o make anyspeech whatsoever about i t beeauae P know you are al l h e r ep r i m a r i l y

t om e e t

ourA s t r o n a u t s .

Thank you VePy much.

MR. BOWWEY: Now I would Bike to c a l l o n D r . L o v e l a ce ,who w i l l t e l l you a l i t t l e b i t about t h e p h y s i c a l e x a m i n a t i o n swhich were g i v e n t h e s e young men.

D r . Lovelace .

DR. LOVELACE: I j u s t h op e t h e y n ev e r g i v e m e a p h y s i c a lexamin a t i on . I t h a s been I rough , long p e r i o d t h a t t h e y bbve beenth r o u g h . I c a n t e l l you t h a t you p i c k h i g h l y i n t e l l i g e n t , h i g h l ym o t iv a te d a nd i n t e l l i g e n t men, and e v e r y o n e i s that t y p e of 8person , and our job 5 s a r e l a t i v e l y e a s y one .

They a r e as you know f m % B y men. I a m not wo r r i e d a b o u tt h e i r s t a b i l i t y , t h e i r power s o f obse rva%ion , o r t h e i r powers toaccomplish t h e t a s k w h i c h t h e y o re g i v e n . 1 c an t e l l you thatI am v e ry, ve ry t h r i l l e d t h a t w e have had a p a r t i n t h e program.

MR. BONNEY: A s a l l of you know, t h e A i r Force p a r -t i c i p a t e d v e ry i m p o r t a n t l y i n th ro w in g i t s aero-medical r e s o u r c e st o he l p i n o u r t a sk . Don F l i e k i ng e r may have a f e w words t os a y .

GENERAL F L I C K I N G E R : Thank you, Walt. I r e a l l y am h e r eas a spokesman only f o r t h e team of s c i e n t i s t s which w e po o l e dt o g e t h e r a t t h e Aero Med L a b a t Dayton. We p u l l e d t h e s e s c i e n t i s t s


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t o g e t h e r f r o m bo th t h e Army a n d t h e Navy and A i r Force r e s o u r c e s .Th i s w a s a composite team whose o b j e c t i v e s w e r e t o s u b j e c t a l lof t h e c a n d i d a t e s to s t r e s s e s w h i c h m o s t n e a r l y simulated thosewhich w e praject- f u r the hidivltduztl in : h & f i m t - d r b f t a l ' '::.:f l i g h t s of P r o j e c t Mercury.

A l l t h a t I have t o s a y, W a l t , i s t h a t f r o m o u r s t a n d -p o i n t t h e most d i f f i c u l t j o b w a s i n n o t t a k i n g a l l of t h e 31 or32 t h a t s t a r t e d t h rough . I t w a s r e a l l y a d i f f i c u l t j o b andi t i s a g r e a t t r i b u t e , I t h i n k , t o o u r A i r Force , Navy, andMarine f l y i n g p er s on n el t h a t t h e y came th rough w i t h s u c h f l y -i n g c o l o r s .

I have been very proud t o be associa ted w i t h t h i sp r o j e c t a n d w e on t h e aeromedical s i d e have l ea rned a g r e a td e a l from i t .

Thank you.

MR. BONNEY: Thank you, Don.

You photographers I am a f r a i d w e w i l l have t o a s k yout o s i t down. W are t r y i n g t o g i v e as much of a break t o eve ry -body as p o s s i b l e . W e have l i m i t e d f a c i l i t i e s , as a l l o f u s a reexpe r i en c in g . The boys w i t h t h e l o n g l e n s e s i n back do haveproblems. So p l e a s e w i l l you s i t down, an d t h i s i n c l u d e s th e

young man w i t h t h e t e l e p h o t o l e n s .

I w i l l a s k you not t o t ake p i c t u r e s u n t i l a f t e r w eg e t t h r o ug h w i t h t h e -QtV and t rAt t . W have ordered i t t h i s way,p l e a s e a

Now I would l i k e t o c a l l on Captain Norman B a r r .

C A P TA I N BARR: Thank you very much. I am q u i t e s u r e t h ano f i n e r g r o u p of men could have been s e l e c t e d by t h e t e s t s t h a tare a v a i l a b l e t o us t o d a y. A l l o f u s a re v er y s u r e t h a t t h e

c o r r e c t men have been s e l e c t e d f o r t h i s program. These men havebeen chosen from a p o p u l a t i o n of abou t 180 m i l l i o n t o r e p r e s e n tt h e U ni te d S t a t e s i n t h i s i mp or ta nt p r o j e c t . We are a l l beh indthem a hundred pe rcen t .


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MR, BONNEY: Thank you, C a p t a i n B a r r .

Now I w i l l c a l l on C h a r l e s Donlan, who i s Y r . G i l r u t h ' sr i g h t - h a n d man.

MR, DONLAN: There is l i t t l e I can add t o w h a t hasbeen s a i d e x c e p t t h a t we are d e l i g h t e d t o have these A s t r o n a u t sw i t h us. They br ing t o t h e program a w i d e r ange of e x p e r i e n c e ,e n g i n e e r i n g , an d f l y i n g , and o t h e r s c i e n t i f i c e n g in ee r i ng d i s c i p l i n e s .I hope w e a re g o i n g t o have a chance t o work w i t h them w i t h a b i g g ep r o p o r t i o n t h a n w e have had t o d a t e .

MR. BOHNEY: Thank you.

Now w e come t o t h e '*&" and **A*? . I ask you l a d i e s andgentlemen t o a d d r e s s y o u r q u e s t i o n s t o m e . I w i l l repea t themand then w e w i l l g e t them answered.

P e t e r ?

QUESTION: I would l i k e t o ask L i e u t e n a n t C a r p e n t e r ifh i s w i f e h a s had a n y t h i n g t o s a y abou t t h i s , and/or h i s fourc h i l d r e n ?

LIEUT ENANT CARPENTER: They a r e a l l as e n t h u s i a s t i ca b o u t t h e program as I 8111.

QUESTION: How abou t t h e o t h e r s ? Same q u e s t i o n .

HR. BONIWY: Suppose w e go down t h e l i n e , o n e , t w o ,th ree , on t h a t . 'Phe q u e s t i o n is: Has you r good lady, and yourc h i l d r e n , had anything t o s a y abou t t h i s ?

CAPTAIB COOPER: Yes, mine ha ve . Mine are v e r ye n t h u s i a s t i c a l s o . I c an answer t he same f o r m y s e l f .

COU3I?EL GLENN: I d o n ' t t h i n k any of us c o u l d r e a l l ygo on w i t h someth ing l i k e t h i s i f w e d i d n ' t have p r e t t y goodback i n g a t home, r e a l l y . My w i f e ? s a t t i t u d e t o w a r d t h i s h a sbeen t h e same as i t h a s been a l l a l o n g t h ro u g h a l l my f l y i n g .I f i t i s what I w a n t t o do she i s b e h i n d i t , and t h e k i d s a retoo, a h u n d r e d p e r c e n t .


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CAPTAIN GRISSOM: My w i f e f e e l s t h e same way, or ofc o u r s e I wouldn ' t be h e r e . S h e i s w i t h m e aPP t h e way. The b o ya re too l i t t l e t o r e a l i z e what is going on y e t , b u t I am s u r et h e y w i l l f e e l t h e same way.

COMMANDE R SCHIRRA: My w i f e has a g r e e d t h a t t h ep r o f e s s i o n a l o p i n i o n s a r e mind, t h e ca r ee r i s mia.e, and w ea l s o have a f a m i l y l i f e t h a t w e P i k e . T h i s i s p a r t of t h eagreement . I c a n ' t sag much f o r my younges t daugh te r -- s h ei s o n l y e i g h t e e n m o nt hs o l d . B u t my so n h a s q u i t e a n i n t e r e s ti n t h e program.

COMMANDERSHEPARD: I have no problems a t home. Myf a m i l y i s in comple te agreement .

CAPTAIN SLAPTON: I c a n s a y what t h e o t h e r gentlemenh a m s a i d . What I do is p r e t t y much my b u s i n e s s , p r s f e s s i o n -w i s e . My w i f e goes a l o n g w i t h i t .

MR. BONNEY: "he n e x t q u e s t i o n , p l e a s e ?

QUESTION: This i s a g e n e r a l q u e s t i o n . 1 see you havet h r e e A i r Force, t h r e e Navy, and one Marine. Is t h i s on purposes o t h a t each of t h e s e rv i ce s i s r e p r e s e n t e d ?

MR. BONNEY: The q u e s t i o n i s , w e have t h r e e A i r F o r c e ,

t h r e e Navy, and one Mari ne. Was t h i s on purpose?

I would l i k e t 0 answer t h a t one , i f I m i g h t , becauseI w a s born i n Vermont , w h i c h i s almost a s bad as b e i n g b o r n i nMis sou r i from t h e s t a n d p o i n t of l o o k i n g a t t h i n g s w i t h 8somewhat j a u n d i c e d e y e . I s a i d , "HOW come i t came o u t t h i s way?'Randy Lovelace t e l l s m e , Bob G i l r u t h t e l l s m e , everyoneassoc ia ted w i t h t h e P r o j e c t t e l l s m e t h a t t h e y d i d i t bynumbers and not by se rv ice , and i t j u s t h a p p e n e d t h a t way.

Nex t ques t i on?

QUESTION: I n o t i c e t h a t t h e t h r e e g e n t l e m e n on ou rl e f t have been smoking. I wonder what t h e y a r e go ing t o do f o ra c i g a r e t t e when they g e t up t h e r e ?


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HR. BONNEY: The q u e s t i o n is -- a n d t h e tobacco t r u s tp l e a s e c l o s e you r e a r s -- i t is n o t i c e d t h a t t h r e e of o u r s e v e nyoung men are smoking. What will t h ey be doing when they g e t up it h e c a p s u l e ?

Perhaps, Randy, you m i g h t t a c k l e t h a t one .

DR. LOVELACE: I t h i n k t h e y are mature men and w e w i l ll e a v e i t up t o them i n l a rg e p a r t . O f c o u r s e w e have a fewm onth s f o r a n i n d o c t r i n a t i o n pr og ra m.

QUESTION: Do a l l of them smoke?

HR, B0"EY: How many of you gentlemen smoke?

CAPTAIN SLAYTON: I w i l l have t o q u a l i f y m y s e l f .

(There w a s a showing of hands.)

MR. BONNEY: Three and a h a l f .

I q u i t o nc e f o r t h r e e a nd a h a l f d a y s .

QUESTION: The words "high mot iv a t ion" have been usedh e r e t o day and e a r l i e r. What i s t h e m o t i v a t i o n o f t h e s e men?

MR. BOHHEY: The ques t ion i s : What i s t h e m o t i v a t i o nof th es e men?

L e t ' s t r y t h a t s t a r t i n g from t h e l e f t and down.

QUESTION: Can w e ge t t hem t o gi ve t h e i r home towns,a l s o ?

MR. BONNEY: Ye s , w i l l you giv e your home town andag e as you do t h i s , T hi s w i l l b e h e l p f u l t o t h e b o y s on t h el e n s e s and a l s o to t h e r e p o r t e r s .

QUESTION: T h e i r names f i r s t .

MR. BOIWEY: F u l l name;' age, gmd home town , p l e a s e .

CAPTAIN SLAYTON: My f u l l name i s Donald K. S l a y t o n .


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t o Heaven I w i l l e v e r g e t and I wanted t o m a k e t h e most of i t .

But my f e e l i n g s are t h a t t h i s whole p r o j e c t w i t h r e g a r d

t o s p a c e s o r t of s t a n d s w i t h u s now as , i f you want t o l o o k a ti t o ne way, l i k e t h e Wr ig h t b r o t h e r s s t o o d a t K i t t y Hawk ab ou tf i f t y y e a r s ago, w i t h O r v i l l e a nd Wilbu r p i t c h i n g a c o i n t o s e ewho was g o i n g t o s ho ve t h e o t h e r o ne o f f t h e h i l l down t h e r e .I t h i n k w e s t a n d on t h e v e r ge of someth ing as b i g a nd a se x p a n s ive as t h a t w a s f i f t y y e a r s ago.

I a l s o a g r e e w h o l e h e a r t 6 d l y w i t h Gus h e r e . I t h i n kw e are v e r y f o r t u n a t e : t h a t w e have , should w e s a y, b e e n b l e s s e dw i t h t h e t a l e n t s t h a t h av e be en p i ck e d f o r so me th in g P i k e t h i s .I t h i n k w e would be almost remiss i n our d u ty i f w e d i d n ' tmake f u l l u s e of o u r t a l e n t s . Ev ery one of us would f e e l g u i l t yI t h i n k i f w e d i d n ' t make t h e f u l l e s t u s e o f o ur t a l e n t s i nv o l u n t e e r i n g f o r s o m et h in g t h a t i s as i m p o r t a n t as t h i s i s t oour c o u n t r y an d t h e world i n g e n e r a l r i g h t now.

This ca n mean an a wf ul l o t t o t h i s c o un t r y , of c o u r s e .

CAPTAIN COOPER: I am Leroy G. Cooper, J r . , Ca r bo n d a l e ,Colorado, ag e 32. I t i s a lways a d i s a d v a n t a g e t o have t o s p e a kl ou d . I t h i n k t h e o t h e r s h a ve e x p re s se d v er y w e l l and E t h i n kw e a re m o t i v a t e d b y -- I m y s e l f , I s h o u l d s a y -- a m m o t i v a t e dby t h e f a c t t h a t I a m a c a r e e r o f f i c e r , c a r e e r p i l o t , a nd t h i si s s o m et h in g new an d v e r y i n t e r e s t i n g .

LIEUTENANT CARPENTER: I am Malcolm S co t t Ca r p e n t e r,from Bou lde r, Co lo r ado . I am 33. I t h i n k w e a r e a l l of a mindon t h i s m o t i v a t i o n q u e s t i o n . I t i s a chance t o s e r v e t h ec o u n t r y i n a v e r y n o b l e cause . I t c e r t a i n l y i s a cha n c e t op i o n e e r on a g rand s c a l e . I a m very happy and proud t o ha v eb e en g iven t h e o p p o r t u n i t y .


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M R e BONNEY:. Thank you, gentlemen.

Next question?

QUESTION: What element of suitability is there aboutbeing a family man that eliminated all the bachelors and broughtout seven family men?

MR. BONNEX: General Flickinger is a bachelor, and helaughed so we will give him a chance to answer that question.

The question is: All of these men are very demonstrablyfamily men. Why is it tha t f amily men were picked instead ofbachelors?

Don, as a bachelor, will you answer that, please?

GENERALFLICKINGER: Th e only thing I can say is thatthe medical statistics prove that marled-fhen live longer thanbachelors, We hope to keep thes e people in the oroject a reallong time.

MR, 3ONNEY: It doesn't always seem that r a y to anothermarried man.

QUESTION: Another question is the age. ARe men overthirty more stable, reliable, or what?

MR. BONNEY: The question is: What about the ir age?Are men over thirty more stable, more reliable, or what?

Captain 3 a m , perhaps you might l ike to answer thatone.

CAPTAIN BARR: In addition, of course, to the medicalqualifications, there are certain other qualifications. F o rexample, these men had to have a technical background in thesubjects related to this new specialty. They had to have about1,50 0 hours as pilots of jet-type akrcraft. They had to knowsome astronomy, applications, many other basic sciences. Yo ucan not find younger men t han th ese who meet these qualifica-

t ions ,

QUESTION: Dr. Lovelace said that the men had a fewmonths for indoctrination. Would you want to give an educat edguess as to how many mont hs before?


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MR. BONNEY: The ques t i on i s , acco rd ing t o Dr.Lo ve l ace , t h e r e w i l l b e s e v e r a l m on th s f o r i n d o c t r i n a t i o n .How l o n g w ould t h i s take?

The answer t o t h a t , a n d i f I m ig ht t r y t o p r o v i d ei t i n s t e a d of Dr. Love l ace , i t would be t h a t t h e s e men w i l lb e i n t r a i n i n g and g e t t i n g e x pe r i en c e r i g h t u p u n t i l t h et i m e t h a t t h e y w i l l be making t h e i r f l i g h t s , which a s D r .G l e nn an s a id e a r l i e r t h i s a f t e r n o o n , w i l l b e i n a c o u p l eo f y e a r s , w e hope.

B i l l L e v i t t ?

MR. LEVITT: One o f t h e s e gen tl emen w i l l make t h ei n i t i a l f l i g h t . But i s i t s chedu l ed t h a t t h e o t h e r s i x w i l lmake s u b s e q u e n t f l i g h t s ?

M R Q BONNEY: T h e q u e s t i o n i s : T h e r e a r e s e v e nge n t l emen ; one of t h e m o b v i o u s l y h a s g o t t o be f i r s t . W i l lt h e o t h e r s a l s o p a r t i c i p a t e ?

I n d e e d t h e y w i l l . They w i l l p a r t i c i p a t e a l l t h eway through, and t h i s i s one reason why w e c u t t h e numberfrom twe lve t o s e v e n . P e rh a p s t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t s i n g l er ea s on for c u t t i n g f r o m t w e l v e t o s e v e n , so a s t o g i v e a l lof them a maximum p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e program. We e x p e c tt o make more t h a n o n e o r b i t a l f l i g h t by f a r .

P e t e r ?

QUESTION: When t h e f i n a l day comes a ro un d, o r t h ef i n a l week, wha teve r i t i s , how w i l l t h e f i n a l s e l e c t i o n b emade and by whom?

MR. BONNEY: When t h e f i n a l day or week o r hou rcomes a r o u n d , how w i l l t h e s e l e c t i o n p r o c e s s be made andby whom?

I t h i n k p e r h a p s B o b G i l r u t h m i g h t want t o t a c k l e

t h a t o n e , i n s o f a r a s h e c a n cat t h i s t i m e ,

MR, GILRUTH: I t h i n k you a r e a s k i n g f o r a l o t i nt h a t q u e s t i o n , i na sm uc h a s w e have s o fa r y e t t o go i n t h eMercury Program, N o t o n l y p i l o t - t r a i n i n g - w i s e b u t h a r d w a r e -w i s e ,


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All of these models of the capsule you see, thesystems that we have talked about, are all yet to be trans-lated into real hardware. Thi s real hardware has to betested, retested, and where found wanting i t has to becorrected and proven out.

We are still a very long way from being far enoughdown the road to answer when we will have the final systemand just how we will go about picking the best-qualifiedman at the time.

MR. BONNEY: I might add a footnote to that.

I had the privilege last evening of meeting thesegentlemen at Langley for the first time, My guess is th8tit is going to have to be pretty much a matter of drawingstraws , because all seven of them should be first.

Bob?

QUESTION: Could I ask for a show of hands of howmany are confident that they will come back from outerspace?

MR, BONNEY: The question is for a show of handsfrom you seven as to how many of you are confident you aregoing to come back?

(All seven astronauts raised their hands,)

(Laughter.)

QUESTION: What lies immediately ahead of thesemen? Will they continue in their hormal service assignments,or will they be segregated from now on?

MR, BONNEY: The question is: What will happen tothese men; will they continue their normal service assignments?

They will not, They will shift over to NASA assoon as they can get their family moved down to Langley Field.They will participate in the Program in the most intimate sortOf way. As the biographies will show, they all have engineeringbackgrounds, they will be working on the hardware; they willbe working on the systems ; they will al so be very intensivelycarrying on their training program.,


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QUESTION: As of pow, w h i c h do you e x p e c t t o f i n i s hf i r s t , the space v e h i c l e o r the t r a i n i n g program?

MR, BONNEY: The question is: As of now, w h i c h w i l lfinish f i r s t , t h e s p a c e v e h i c l e or t h e t r a i n i n g program ?

The answer i s , i f i t is n o t a dead h e a t , we a r e n o td o i n g o u r job r i g h t ,

QUESTION: Walt, a s w e u n d e r s t a n d i t t h e n , t h e s eseven men a r e g o i n g t o b e t a k e n a l o n g t oge the r i n e ve ry s tageof t h e i r p r e p a r a t i o n ?

MR. BONNEY: The q u e s t i o n i s : I t i s u n d e r s t o o d a l ls e v e n w i l l be ca r r i e d a l o n g a s a team, p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n c on c er tin e v e r y s t e p of t h e program,

The answer is, 100 p e r c e n t correct .

P a u l ?

QUESTION: What s a l a r y w i l l these g e n t l e m e n r e c e i v ea s c i v i l s e rv a n ts ?

lda. BONNEY: T h e q u e s t i o n i s : What s a l a r y w i l lthese g e n t l e m e n r e c e i v e a s c i v i l s e r v a n t s and a s a s t r o n a u t s ?

The answer i s , t h e i r s e r v i c e pa y, I t h i n k t h i s i scor rec t .

QUESTIBI: W i l l t h e y r em ain i n t h e s e r v i c e ?MR, B O m Y : They w i l l remain in t h e s e r v i c e , d e -

t a c h e d t o NASA.

QUESTION: W i l l there be hazardous-duty pay i n v o l v e d ?

YB , BONNEY: Q u e s t i o n : W i l l t h e r e be hazardous-dutypay invo lved?

Bob?

YB, GILBUTH: T h a t i s cor rec t .

BONNEY: T h e r e w i l l be hazardous-duty pay in -v o l v e d ,


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QUESTION: Equivalent to flight pay?

MR. BONNEY: Yes,, It is the same as flight p a y . Inother words, they don't get a dime extra.

QUESTION: One other question. Were any civilian testpilots considered, or is this confined to military career pilo ts,and why?

MR. BONNEY: The question is: Were any civilian testpilots considered o r was the selection process limited to themilitary testpilots?

The answer to that is that the selection process waslimited to the military t e s t pilots,decision because we kn ew that the records on these people wereavailable. We could run them through the machines and veryquickly make first-cut selections from an elite group.

It was a purely arbitrary

Phil?

QUESTION: You say these men will be detached to N A S A .Will they be eligible 'for military promotion during that time?

MR. BONNEY: Th e question is: Will they be detachedfrom military duty and assigned to N A S A ; will they be eligiblefor promotion in the military?

The answer is: Yes , indeed, they will.

QUESTION: I am still hazy on this one point. Is itplanned that each one of these seven will make orbita l flights?

MR. BONNEY: To the extent possible. The question is:Is it planned that all seven will make orbital flights?

T o the extent practicable, the answer is Yes. We ex-pact to bring the capsules back. We expect to use thein morethan once.

QUESTION: Where will these flights originate?

QUESTION: I would like to get back to t h e astronautsfor a minute, if we could. I t would be interesting if we couldhear briefly from each of them what is their sustaining faith.DO any of them have a particularly s trong religious faith; oris it motivation of service to country? What are they hangingon to?


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MR. BONNEY: G e t t i n g back t o t h e m o t i v a t i o n , t h eq u e s t i o n i s : What i s t h e s u s t a i n i n g f a i t h of t h e g e n t l e m e n ;w h a t i s t h e b a s i c m o t i v a t i o n ?

Again, l e t ' s s t a r t w i t h B r o t h e r C a r p e n t e r.

LIEUTENANT CARPENTER: A s f a r a s I a m c o n c e r n e d ,my s u s ta i n in g f a i t h , I t h i n k , i s t h e f a c t t h a t I b e l i e v e w eh a v e t h e b e s t m i n d s in t h e c o u n t r y b e h i n d t h i s p r o j e c t .

CAPTAIN COOPER: I would l i k e t o c l a r i f y t h i sq u e s t i o n . D o you mean by " s u s t a i n i n g f a i t h " o u r s u s t a i n i n gf a i t h i n l i f e ? O r i n t h e p r o j e c t i t s e l f ?

QUESTION: My f e e l i n g w a s t h a t you men a r e o b v i o u s l yr i s k i n g yo ur l i v e s , W e a l l of u s hang on t o someth ing a s w ego t hr ou gh l i f e an d f e e l t h a t i f w e a r e r i s k i n g o u r l i v e s , i ti s wor th i t , And a l s o t h o s e who have a r e l i g i o u s b e n t f e e l

t h a t i f t h i n g s d o n ' t go r i g h t t h a t r e l i g i o n t a k e s care o ft h a t . I w o u l d l i k e t o know i f any of you have a r e l i g i o u s ,a s t ro n g r e l i g i o u s f e e l i n g ,

CAPTAIN COOPER: Y e s , f o r m y se lf I a m a C h r i s t i a n ,a Methodis t , and I t h i n k r e l i g i o n i s d e f i n i t e l y w i t h t h o sewho a r e C h r i s t i a n s a s u s t a i n i n g a i d , Likewise , I b e l i e v et h a t I have f a i t h i n t h e p eo pl e t h a t I a m working w i t h i nt h i s program, and I know i t w i l l b e a s u c c e s s .

MR. BONNEY: B e f o r e w e g e t t o t h e n e x t o n e , l e t ' sgo back

t oC a r p e n t e r and l e t him f i l l o u t t h a t p a r t i c u l a r

q u e s t i o n so t h a t w e w i l l g e t a f u l l r ea di n g on i t .

LIEUTENANT CARPENTER: I f t h e q u e s t i o n i n v o l v e dr e l i g i o u s f a i t h , I h a v e t h a t , a l t h o u g h I d o n * t c a l l on itp a r t i c u l a r l y assoc ia ted w it h t h i s p r o j e c t . I a m m e r e l y af a i t h f u l c hu rc h- go er , w he re i t i s p o s s i b l e . I t h i n k t h i sm i g h t h e l p s u s t a i n my, a l s o .

COLONEL GLENN: A s f a r a s f a i t h i n t h e p rogram goes ,t o c o v e r t h a t p a r t of i t , yes, I have a l l t h e f a i t h i n t h ew or ld i n t h e p e op le r un ni ng t h i s t h i n g , I f w e d i d n ' t t h i n kw e had t h e f i n e s t b r a i n s i n t h e c o un tr y working on t h i st h i n g , I a m s u r e a l l o f us would look a t i t w i t h a p r e t t yj undiced eye ,

We a r e p r e t t y new t o t h i s , o u r d e a l i n g s w i t h t h ep e op le i n t h i s program so f a r , b u t n a t u r a l l y , f r o m what we


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I think I should l ike to dwell more on the faith inwhat we have called the machine age. We have the faith inthe space age. The remarks the other fellows made about thebest minds in the country involved in this project obviouslyhave to apply,

All of us have had faith in mechanical objects.We have been driving car s, sometimes not successfully; we havebeen flying airplanes, some not successfully. I think thespace program will have problems in i t , Again , you have tobelieve that we are trying to do something and we are goingto do it as well as we cano

LT, CDR, SHEPARD: To answer your question aboutfaith, I don't mean t o slight the religious angle in my answer .I of course am a Christian and attend church, I think perti-

nent here is the ent ire philosophy of the Project Mercury,as expressed by Dr, Glennan in the latter part of January, Ibelieve, and possibly to rephrase his words a little , thisproject is not in direct competition with any other agencya s we know it . Th e project is described to you people, andto us, as merely one step in the evolution of space travel.

Along those lines, I would like to say that I thinki t is also pertinent t o state that the risk, as you put it ,is not as great a s you possibly feel that it is.

The program is designed, yes, as a step in theevolution of space travel, and a s such , I am sure that themen connected with this project will not attempt space flightuntil we have reached the probability which has been se t.The probability which has been set is higher; in other words,we have a better chance of coming back than we have many ofus here in our contemporary duti es on routine test flightsin which we have been serving.

I would like to discount the fact that th i s projectis extremely hazardous. And also to agree with what D r . Glennansaid: It is not a technical race, i t is a step in the evolu-tion of space travel.

CAPTAIN SLAYTON: As f a r as my religious f a i t h is con-cerned, I am a Luthe ran, and I go to church periodically. Likemost of the other people, I don't feel that any particular extrafaith is called for in this program over what we normally have .


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I have been flying in the Air Force for seventeenyears:. Many people think flying is hazardous. I don't. Ihave been t e s t flying for the p a s t four years and I don'tt h ink this is especially hazardous.normal extension of flight.

To m e , it is j u s t a

I see nothing about it that is any more hazardousthan what I have been d oing for th e last four years.

MR . BONNEY: Question?

QUESTION: Could y ou te ll us what Yr. Shepard'schurch affiliation is?

MR , BONNEY: Yr. Shepard, youk church affilliati on,if you care to say?

LT. CDR. SHEPARD: Yes. I am not a member of anychurch. I attand th e Christian Science Church regularly.

MR. BONNEY: Question?

QUESTION: In the event one of these gentlemenwere eliminated from the program during th cp ed od , sil l hebe replaced?

MR. BONNEY: Th e question is: In the event thatfor any reason

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Mercury Seven Background and Press Conference

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