The Right Stuff | Teaching Key Figures

Character Descriptions

This section provides a short description of all the major characters in the book. This can be printed out as a study guide for students, used as a "key" for leading a class discussion, or you can jump to the quiz/homework section to find worksheets that incorporate these descriptions into a variety of question formats.

Characters

Chuck Yeager - This character breaks the sound barrier and is the best of Edwards AFB's test pilots.

John Glenn - This astronaut is not only the only Marine among the original seven astronauts, but is also the oldest.

Gus Grissom - This astronaut nearly drowns when the capsule sinks after splashdown.

Alan Shepard - This person is the first American sent into space.

Deke Slayton - This astronaut is disqualified from space flight for a slight heart defect.

Gordon Cooper - This character is the last of the original seven astronauts to...
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