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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Scott Carpenter is the only astronaut who has a touch of what in him?

2. Which magazine buys the exclusive rights to the astronauts' personal stories for $500,000?

3. When do the pilots wear their bridge coats?

4. How many planes does a pilot have to shoot down in combat to be considered an "ace"?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do so many fighter pilots accept the Mercury mission?

2. NASA originally needs six astronauts for the Mercury program, but is going to take twelve astronauts. Why?

3. What are John Glenn and Alan Shepard in serious disagreement about?

4. Describe what the chapter's title of "On the Balcony" refers to.

5. Why do the pilots come to hate Lovelace?

6. The training program for the chimpanzees is based on operant conditioning. Describe what that means for the chimpanzees.

7. Name two reasons that fighter pilots hate to declare an emergency.

8. As the number of killed pilots rises, how does that affect the mood of Pete Conrad?

9. Describe Jane Conrad's nightmares and hallucinations?

10. What does Chuck Yeager become convinced of as he pilots the X-1 at near-Mach I speeds?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At the beginning of our book, and throughout the selection process, we see these brave men having the support (or the perception of support) from their wives and families.

a. While stationed at Muroc, what is the wives' biggest fear? How do they support each other and what unwritten rules govern their roles as pilot wives?

b. Once their husbands are selected for the astronaut program, how do the women's lives change? Give at least three examples.

Essay Topic 2

Identify and discuss the main political events that hastened the creation of Project Mercury.

a. What specifically occurred to speed up NASA's time frame for space travel?

b. What perceived threats resulted from these events?

c. How did the creation of Project Mercury address these perceived threats?

Essay Topic 3

Wally Schirra's Mercury flight came to be known as the "textbook" flight. Scott Carpenter's flight was not.

a. Identify three differences between the two flights that led to this distinction.

b. Describe how the pilot's personalities affected the outcome of the two flights.

c. From watching Carpenter's flight and learning from Carpenter's actions, Schirra insisted on one specific change from Carpenter's flight to his. What was the change? Why was it important?

(see the answer keys)

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