Project Mercury Astronauts Named

April 2, 1959

Chosen from a field of 110 candidates, seven test pilots—Air Force Capts. L. Gordon Cooper Jr., Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom, and Donald K. “Deke” Slayton; Navy Lt. Cmdrs. Walter M. Schirra Jr. and Alan B. Shepard Jr., and Lt. M. Scott Carpenter; and Marine Lt. Col. John H. Glenn Jr.—are announced as the Project Mercury astronauts.

Related Content

More Drones Spotted Over USAF Bases in UK

Nov. 27, 2024
U.S. Air Forces in Europe reported another round of mysterious small drones flying around a cluster of USAF bases in the United Kingdom and said RAF Fairford, which is currently hosting B-52 bombers, is seeing them as well. 

Musk Revives F-35 Criticism, but Could It Actually Lead to Cuts Under Trump?

Nov. 27, 2024
Elon Musk, a confidant of President-elect Trump, has a poor opinion of the F-35 fighter and thinks it should give way to new, uncrewed aircraft. As one of the heads of the unofficial Department of Government Efficiency, Musk's views could affect upcoming contracts and plans for the fighter, but Trump…

GPS Without Space? DOD Looks to Quantum for an Answer

Nov. 27, 2024
The Department of Defense is eyeing localized quantum sensors as a radical alternative to space-based Global Positioning System satellites in the face of increasing threats to GPS signals needed for precision navigation and timing.   

New Drone Sightings Spark Mystery at USAF’s UK Bases

Nov. 25, 2024
A collection of small drones was spotted flying over three U.S. Air Force bases in England last week—the latest in a worrying series of incursions. In a release, U.S. Air Forces in Europe disclosed that the drones flew over and around RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Feltwell from Nov. 20…