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Mercury Seven Astronauts

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
Copyright
©Flip Schulke Archives
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
Location
Currently not on view