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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 do the Project Mercury engineers think will be an easy task?
(a) Launching the rockets.
(b) Recovering the capsule after it splashed down.
(c) Training the astronauts.
(d) Controlling the capsule while in space.

2. How long is the second Russian cosmonaut in space for?
(a) 4 hours .
(b) 1 day.
(c) 3 days.
(d) 10 hours.

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

4. 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.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. The first test flight using an Atlas rocket is unmanned. Who or what goes up in the second test flight?

2. Why do the volunteers report to Lovelace?

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

4. Why does Janet Conrad support her husband's decision to join the astronaut program?

5. What do the engineers see as the most difficult, challenging, and pioneering part of the project?

(see the answer key)

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