Scott Carpenter
Gordon Cooper
John H. Glenn Jr Virgil I (Gus) Grissom
Walter M. Schirra
Alan B. Sheppard
Donald K. Slayton
bob green
The Right Stuff
Alan Shepard
The first astronauts were called the Mercury 7 because they were the first group of astronauts selected for Project Mercury, the United States' first manned spaceflight program. The "7" refers to the seven original astronauts chosen by NASA.
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The original meaning of astronauts refers to individuals specifically trained for traveling in space and exploring outer space. The term is derived from the Greek words "astro," meaning star, and "naut," meaning sailor, reflecting their role as explorers of the stars.
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They are three of the original NASA "Mercury 7" astronauts. Virgil "Gus" Grissom was also on the Apollo program and died in the Apollo 1 fire.
Seven men were selected to be astronauts, only six actually went into space.
As of October 2023, several of the Mercury 7 astronauts' wives have passed away, but a few are still alive. Notably, the surviving wives include those of astronauts like John Glenn and Scott Carpenter, who were part of the original Mercury program. However, the exact number of living wives may vary as time goes on. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please consult recent sources.
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