The Mercury Seven

Soon after the newly formed National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) introduction of the first seven American astronauts, these men became instant celebrities of their time. With each launch of a Mercury capsule, we left the starting blocks and entered into a fierce space race with the then Soviet Union. NASA's Project Mercury was the first step Americans took into the unknown realm of space. The gallant Mercury Seven Astronauts proved that man was capable of surviving space travel, and that we were well on our way and up to challenge of going farther from our home planet.