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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why does Deke Slayton officially retire from the Air Force one year short of being eligible for his 20-year pension
(a) The Air Force decides to ground Slayton permanently.
(b) The Air Force no longer wants Slayton to work with NASA.
(c) Slayton wants to move to Alabama with his wife.
(d) The Air Force wants Slayton to train Yeager.

2. What is Gus afraid of as he tries to swim to the helicopter's horse collar?
(a) Sharks.
(b) The helicopter crashing.
(c) Drowning.
(d) Blacking out.

3. Why does Shepard see the Earth through the periscope in black and white?
(a) He forgets to remove the gray filter before the launch.
(b) It's hard to detect color over vast distances.
(c) The window had a built-in screen.
(d) There is no color in space.

4. Why does the unmanned flight receive very little public attention?
(a) The public is tired of test flights.
(b) The public doesn't believe NASA can pull it off.
(c) The Russians beat the Americans to the punch again.
(d) The Beatles are making their first US tour.

5. The first "manned" space flight by Russia does not have a man aboard. What living thing do the Russians send into space?
(a) A cat.
(b) A dog.
(c) A chimpanzee.
(d) A hamster.

6. Who is James Webb?
(a) The medical officer with the authority to ground Shepard if it becomes medically necessary.
(b) The new flight control commander appointed by NASA.
(c) The new administrator of NASA appointed by the Kennedy administration.
(d) The veterinarian called in to dismantle the chimpanzee colony.

7. As part of the Air Force's astronaut training program, what do the astronaut trainees attend in Washington?
(a) Political classes.
(b) Charm school.
(c) Flight school.
(d) Operations training.

8. The first test flight using an Atlas rocket is unmanned. Who or what goes up in the second test flight?
(a) A chimpanzee.
(b) Alan Shepard.
(c) A dog.
(d) John Glenn.

9. What is significant about Cooper's flight?
(a) It will be the shortest duration flight.
(b) It is the last scheduled Mercury flight.
(c) It will be the first flight of the Apollo program.
(d) It will orbit the moon.

10. John Glenn's flight and his taking on "the mighty Soviet Integral" causes comparisons with what Biblical story?
(a) Cain and Abel.
(b) Samson and Delilah.
(c) David and Goliath.
(d) Sodom and Gomorrah.

11. The launch was originally scheduled for May 2nd, but has to be delayed. What delays the launch?
(a) Fuel problems.
(b) Weather problems.
(c) Communication problems.
(d) Rocket problems.

12. How many pilots are selected to comprise the second group of astronauts for the new moon program?
(a) 15.
(b) 9.
(c) 4.
(d) 7.

13. In Chapter 14, Deke Slayton is promoted within NASA. What is Deke Slayton's new title?
(a) Deputy Chief Controller.
(b) Communications Controller.
(c) Assistant Director of Flight Crew Operations.
(d) Director of Mission Control.

14. How does Slayton refer to NASA's decision in statements to the press?
(a) As an understandable decision.
(b) As an operational decision.
(c) As a huge mistake.
(d) As the right thing to do.

15. In the wake of the successful Mercury flight, even Shorty Powers becomes famous. Who is Shorty Powers?
(a) The Life magazine reporter.
(b) The head of NASA.
(c) The voice of Mercury control.
(d) The head engineer.

Short Answer Questions

1. How many days before the planned Mercury launch do the Russians put a man into space?

2. As soon as Shepard is debriefed, where is he flown to?

3. Towards the end of his flight, Cooper starts experiencing problems. What is causing these problems?

4. Based on the magazine article that is run on Glenn, Grissom, and Shepard, what do these three become known as?

5. How long is the second Russian cosmonaut in space for?

(see the answer keys)

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