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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. What recent invention makes Program Mercury possible at all?
(a) The rocket propulsion system.
(b) The launch software.
(c) The high-speed, electronic computer.
(d) The high-carbon fuel.

2. How many fighter jocks volunteer for the top-secret civilian program?
(a) 29.
(b) 12.
(c) 56.
(d) 37.

3. After countless delays and several launch attempts, on what day is the manned flight finally launched?
(a) January 23, 1062.
(b) February 20, 1962.
(c) January 1, 1963.
(d) April 1, 1962.

4. In the eyes of the engineers, what are the astronauts?
(a) Test subjects in an experiment.
(b) Essential to the success of the program.
(c) National heroes.
(d) Partners in a great mission.

5. What political event leads to Project Mercury being thought of, for the first time, as potentially expendable?
(a) The establishment of political special interest groups.
(b) The launch of another Sputnik satellite.
(c) The election of John F. Kennedy as the country's new President.
(d) The public relations nightmare created by the Edwards' pilots.

Short Answer Questions

1. What record does Bob White set during one of his X-15 flights?

2. Why does the unmanned flight receive very little public attention?

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

4. Sixteen days after Grissom's flight, the Russians launch another cosmonaut into space. How many times does the cosmonaut orbit the Earth before landing?

5. Why do the volunteers report to Lovelace?

(see the answer key)

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