PROJECT MERCURY
T. Keith Glennan approved Project Mercury in October 1958. The project was designed to put an astronaut into Earth orbit at the earliest date and test his ability to function in extreme acceleration ("g-forces") and weightlessness. For many in the public, Congress, and NASA these limited goals represented a first step in human exploration. Planning already was underway to evaluate more ambitious objectives-such as a space station or Moon landing.

NATIONAL HEROES
America's astronauts became the most visible symbols of space exploration. The public, newspapers, and television celebrated these young space pilots as national heroes, and their flights were widely heralded around the world.

FIRST ASTRONAUTS
The Mercury 7 astronauts were selected and introduced to the public in 1959. All were military test pilots. From left to right: (front row) Walter Schirra, Donald Slayton, John Glenn, and Scott Carpenter; (back row) Alan Shepard, Virgil "Gus" Grissom, and Gordon Cooper.

PRESIDENT KENNEDY AND THE MOON DECISION