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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. On the space flight, what becomes a major issue for the astronaut?
(a) Too many experiments.
(b) Low fuel levels.
(c) Loose heat shields.
(d) Fly-by-wire operations.

2. What is the AWC?
(a) Amazing Women Club.
(b) Astronaut Wives Club.
(c) Astronaut Waiting Club.
(d) All Weather Club.

3. What kind of rocket launches the first Mercury capsule?
(a) Atlas rocket.
(b) Redstone rocket.
(c) X-21 rocket.
(d) Canaveral rocket.

4. When the astronauts arrive in Houston, they are told that there will be a "little" cocktail party for them. Where is the cocktail party held?
(a) The Astrodome.
(b) The Exxon Oil Refinery.
(c) The Houston Space Center.
(d) The Houston Coliseum.

5. On what day does Shepard's Mercury capsule launch?
(a) May 25.
(b) May 10.
(c) May 5.
(d) May 12.

Short Answer Questions

1. After the Russian flight, NASA scrubbed the remainder of the planned Mercury flights using Redstone rockets. What is the next flight to attempt?

2. Which chimpanzee is chosen to go into space?

3. As part of the Air Force's astronaut training program, what do the astronaut trainees attend in Washington?

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

5. Which of the astronauts place a sign inside the capsule reading "No handball playing in this area" to help keep Shepard relaxed and loose?

Short Essay Questions

1. What reaction does the American public have to the chimpanzee's flight?

2. What is the general assumption regarding why the capsule's hatch blew before the helicopter hooks on?

3. Why is there a certain danger in scrapping the Redstone rocket in favor of the Atlas rockets?

4. Why does Grissom's suit not keep him buoyant when he is awaiting rescue in the ocean?

5. The evening before the second Mercury flight, Joe Walker runs into Gus Grissom. Walker tries to get Grissom's goat by insisting that the X-15 program will soon pass the Mercury program and that he and the other Edwards pilots are the "real" pilots. Why do these remarks not bother Grissom at all?

6. What is the effect on Shepard of having so many pre-flight simulations?

7. Why are the American politicians and reporters alarmed by the Russian's flight?

8. What worries the astronauts the most about Project Mercury potentially losing funding?

9. When urination had been a problem in the procedures trainer, what had some of the astronauts done out of necessity and what are the dangers involved in a real-world situation?

10. In Chapter 15, what does John Glenn argue with James Webb about?

(see the answer keys)

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