Pioneers of the Sky
Original Seven Mercury Astronauts
The Mercury Seven were the first seven men selected to be astronauts, a job that did not exist prior to the establishment of the group in 1959. The seven became instantly famous nationwide and helped sell the American public on spaceflights and the importance of the Space Race against the Soviet Union. Six of the seven signed this historic photo while all seven signed a page from the book The Astronauts about their missions.
Back Row: Alan Shepard, Virgil “Gus” Grissom (not signed), Gordon Cooper
Front Row: Wally Schirra, Donald “Deke” Slayton, John Glenn, Scott Carpenter
This book, The Astronauts, is the story of Project Mercury, America’s man-in-space program. It is illustrated with drawings and photographs of the events surrounding this most historic occasion. On the first page of the book is the date June 1961. It then reads “To Tony Giesman, with best wishes from,” and is signed by the Mercury 7 astronauts. The author, Martin Caidin, also signed beneath the astronauts’ signatures.
Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom
L. Gordon Cooper
John H. Glenn, Jr.
Walter M. Schirra, Jr.
Alan B. Shepherd, Jr.
Donald K. Slayton
M. Scott Carpenter
Martin Caidin
