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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where is Cape Canaveral located?

2. Which pilot waxes philosophical when asked at the press conference about family and religion (much to the surprise and astonishment of the other pilots)?

3. By the end of the chapter, which one of the seven is beginning to assume the natural leadership role?

4. Why do fighter pilots have an intense dislike for flight surgeons?

5. At the insistence of the astronauts, what feature is finally designed into the capsule?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do many pilots choose to try to pilot a wounded aircraft to the ground rather than eject?

2. NASA originally needs six astronauts for the Mercury program, but is going to take twelve astronauts. Why?

3. The engineers tend to feel that the glorification of the astronauts has really gotten out of control. Why do they feel that way?

4. Why do so many fighter pilots accept the Mercury mission?

5. As the number of killed pilots rises, how does that affect the mood of Pete Conrad?

6. What is the goal of the pilots in Project Mercury, which is the same goal in every new and important flight project?

7. What does Chuck Yeager become convinced of as he pilots the X-1 at near-Mach I speeds?

8. Where is Muroc Field and what is is the significance of the project taking place there?

9. What are John Glenn and Alan Shepard in serious disagreement about?

10. What is the procedures trainer?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Project Mercury first began, the pilots were flying to Cape Canaveral for their training sessions. Later, as Project Mercury outgrew Cape Canaveral, the program was moved to Houston. Compare and contrast the astronauts' lifestyles in Cape Canaveral and Houston.

Essay Topic 2

When we are first introduced to the pilots at Muroc Army Air Base, we meet a cocky group of young pilots that daily face danger and possible death from just doing their jobs.

a. List the dangers the pilots faced daily when conducting their test flights.

b. List off-duty dangers that resulted from their cocky and larger-than-life egos.

Essay Topic 3

To say that the Original Seven astronauts were looked up to would be a gross understatement; they were adored and admired national heroes. Yet, in spite of their fame, they only had one magazine, Life, that told their stories.

a. What were the reasons for the press restrictions?

b. Why was Life magazine selected?

c. In today's world, would heroes agree to only one magazine with exclusive coverage? Why or why not?

d. If the intense hype surrounding the astronauts back then surrounded them in today's environment, identify three differences in how the astronauts would have been "marketed" to the nation.

(see the answer keys)

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