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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 12, "The Tears".

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who is the biggest practical joker among the volunteers?
(a) Gus Grissom.
(b) Pete Conrad.
(c) Wally Schirra.
(d) Alan Shepard.

2. When communicating with mission control, what does Glenn refer to his capsule as?
(a) Test Flight 84.
(b) Friendship 7.
(c) Atlas 1.
(d) Mercury 3.

3. Why does Janet Conrad support her husband's decision to join the astronaut program?
(a) She thinks it will be safer than flying high-performance jet fighters.
(b) She thinks it will vault his career to the top.
(c) She wants to move out of the desert.
(d) She wants her husband to be a famous astronaut.

4. What is the concern that controllers have when preparing to bring Glenn back in through the atmosphere?
(a) That the capsule will overshoot the planned splash zone.
(b) That the parachute will not deploy.
(c) That the heat shields are loose.
(d) That the blood pressure monitor is malfunctioning.

5. What did the astronauts most often hit in the procedures trainer?
(a) The abort handle.
(b) The communications button.
(c) The oxygen stir handle.
(d) The launch button.

Short Answer Questions

1. From the original volunteers for the program, how many are finally accepted as astronauts?

2. Who does Annie Glenn refuse to let into her house because the press storm around the launch is so excruciating to her?

3. Who is the scheduled backup astronaut for the first manned orbital flight?

4. Who is in charge of testing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base?

5. In the eyes of the engineers, what are the astronauts?

(see the answer key)

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