Man In Space Soonest

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Man In Space Soonest (MISS) was a U.S. Air Force program to put a man into outer space before the Soviet Union. MISS would have used a Thor booster, then later an Atlas, to put a capsule into orbit. The program eventually developed into NASA's Project Mercury.

Astronauts

The MISS program had two astronaut selection groups:

1957 selection

Neil Armstrong	Scott Crossfield	Iven Kincheloe	John B. McKay
Joe Walker	Alvin S. White	Robert M. White

Neil A. Armstrong, 27—NACA Test Pilot

• Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering
• Former naval aviator and Korean War veteran
• Retired July 26, 1962

Scott Crossfield, 36—NAA Test Pilot

• Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering
• Master of Science in Aeronautical Enginnering
• World War II veteran
• Retired December 6, 1960
• Died April 19, 2006

Captain Iven C. Kincheloe, 29—USAF Test Pilot

• college graduate
• died in flight on July 26, 1958

John B. McKay, 34—NACA Test Pilot

• US Navy veteran
• Bachelor of Science degree
• retired September 8, 1966
• died April 27, 1975

Joseph A. Walker, 36—NACA Test Pilot

• Bachelor of Arts in physics
• Former USAF Captain
• World War II veteran
• retired August 22, 1963
• died June 8, 1966

Alvin S. White, 38—NAA Test Pilot

• Bachelor of Science degree
• retired December 6, 1960
• died April 29, 2006

Captain Robert M. White, 33—USAF Test Pilot

• Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering
• WWII and Korean War veteran
• returned to operational Air Force, 1963^[1]
• retired as a Major General USAF, February 1, 1981^[1]

1958 selection

Lieutenant Commander Forrest S. Peterson -- US Navy Test Pilot

• • Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering
  • Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering
  • Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering
  • returned to operational Fleet assignments, January 10, 1962^[2]
  • retired as a Vice Admiral USN, 1980^[2]
  • died December 8, 1990

See also

• List of astronauts by selection
• Project Mercury
• Vostok

References

External links

• Encyclopedia Astronautica entry.
• ""First Up?", Tony Reichhardt, Air & Space Magazine, August/September 2000.

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