Back

Mercury Seven Astronauts

Usage Conditions Apply

Artist: Flip Schulke, 24 Jun 1930 - 15 May 2008
Sitter: Malcolm Scott Carpenter, 1 May 1925 - 10 Oct 2013; Walter Marty Schirra, Jr., 12 Mar 1923 - 3 May 2007; Virgil Grissom, 3 Apr 1926 - 27 Jan 1967; Alan Bartlett Shepard, Jr., 18 Nov 1923 - 21 Jul 1998; Unidentified Man; John Herschel Glenn, Jr., 18 Jul 1921 - 8 Dec 2016; Donald Slayton, 1 Mar 1924 - 13 Jun 1993; L. Gordon Cooper Jr., 6 Mar 1927 - 4 Oct 2004

Date: 1961

Type: Photograph

Medium: Gelatin silver print
Dimensions: Mount: 50.8 x 40.6 cm (20 x 16"); Mat: 55.9 x 71.1 cm (22 x 28"); Image/Sheet: 21.7 × 33.5 cm (8 9/16 × 13 3/16")

Topic: Baggage & Luggage\Briefcase; Printed Material\Map; Home Furnishings\Telephone; Vehicle\Spacecraft\Rocket; Unidentified Man: Male; Walter Marty Schirra, Jr.: Male; Walter Marty Schirra, Jr.: Business and Finance\Businessperson; Walter Marty Schirra, Jr.: Science and Technology\Engineer; Walter Marty Schirra, Jr.: Science and Technology\Scientist\Astronaut; Walter Marty Schirra, Jr.: Military and Intelligence\Navy\Naval aviator; Walter Marty Schirra, Jr.: Science and Technology\Engineer\Aeronautical engineer; Walter Marty Schirra, Jr.: Military and Intelligence\Navy\Officer\Captain; Walter Marty Schirra, Jr.: Science and Technology\Aviator\Test pilot; Malcolm Scott Carpenter: Male; Malcolm Scott Carpenter: Military and Intelligence\Navy\Officer; Malcolm Scott Carpenter: Literature\Writer\Novelist; Malcolm Scott Carpenter: Science and Technology\Scientist\Astronaut; Malcolm Scott Carpenter: Military and Intelligence\Navy\Naval aviator; Malcolm Scott Carpenter: Natural Resource Occupations\Explorer\Ocean explorer; L. Gordon Cooper Jr.: Male; L. Gordon Cooper Jr.: Science and Technology\Scientist\Astronaut; L. Gordon Cooper Jr.: Military and Intelligence\Air Force\Officer\Air Force pilot; Alan Bartlett Shepard, Jr.: Male; Alan Bartlett Shepard, Jr.: Business and Finance\Businessperson; Alan Bartlett Shepard, Jr.: Science and Technology\Scientist\Astronaut; Alan Bartlett Shepard, Jr.: Military and Intelligence\Navy\Officer\Rear Admiral; Alan Bartlett Shepard, Jr.: Military and Intelligence\Navy\Naval aviator; John Herschel Glenn, Jr.: Male; John Herschel Glenn, Jr.: Politics and Government\US Senator\Ohio; John Herschel Glenn, Jr.: Science and Technology\Scientist\Astronaut; John Herschel Glenn, Jr.: Military and Intelligence\Marine Corps\Officer\Marine Corps pilot; John Herschel Glenn, Jr.: Military and Intelligence\Marine Corps; John Herschel Glenn, Jr.: Presidential Medal of Freedom; John Herschel Glenn, Jr.: Congressional Gold Medal; Virgil Grissom: Male; Virgil Grissom: Science and Technology\Scientist\Astronaut; Virgil Grissom: Military and Intelligence\Air Force\Officer\Air Force pilot; Donald Slayton: Male; Donald Slayton: Science and Technology\Scientist\Astronaut; Donald Slayton: Military and Intelligence\Air Force\Officer\Air Force pilot; Portrait

Place: United States\Florida\Brevard\Cape Canaveral

Credit Line: National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution

Restrictions & Rights: Usage conditions apply

Object number: NPG.99.163

Exhibition Label: When NASA opened its doors on October 1, 1958, one of its first tasks was to develop selection criteria for the first U.S. astronauts. Though the organization was ready to consider civilians, President Dwight D. Eisenhower declared that astronauts were to be chosen only from the nation’s active-duty test pilots. In 1959, NASA introduced the seven Project Mercury astronauts. Known as the Mercury Seven, they included (standing, from left to right): Alan Shepard (1923–1998), Walter Schirra (1923–2007), Virgil “Gus” Grissom (1926–1967), Scott Carpenter (1925–2013), John Glenn (1921–2016), Donald “Deke” Slayton (1924–1993), and Gordon Cooper (1927–2004). Flip Schulke photographed the group in 1961, as they gathered around a monitor displaying a gantry at Cape Canaveral, Florida. In May of that same year, Shepard became the first American in space, and several months later, Glenn became the first American to orbit the earth.; Una de las primeras tareas de la NASA, establecida el 1 de octubre de 1958, fue crear criterios de selección para los primeros astronautas estadounidenses. Aunque la agencia estaba dispuesta a considerar civiles, el presidente Dwight D. Eisenhower dijo que debían ser pilotos de prueba en servicio activo. En 1959 la NASA presentó a los siete astronautas del Proyecto Mercury. Conocidos como “los siete del Mercury”, eran (de pie, desde la izquierda): Alan Shepard (1923–1998), Walter Schirra (1923–2007), Virgil “Gus” Grissom (1926–1967), Scott Carpenter (1925–2013), John Glenn (1921–2016), Donald “Deke” Slayton (1924–1993) y Gordon Cooper (1927–2004). Flip Schulke los fotografió en 1961, reunidos en torno a un monitor donde se ve una grúa en Cabo Cañaveral, Florida. En mayo de ese año Shepard se convirtió en el primer estadounidense que llegó al espacio, y meses después Glenn fue su primer compatriota en orbitar la tierra.

Data Source: National Portrait Gallery