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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. Which of the astronauts commands the least star power?

2. Complete this flying theorem: "There are no accidents and no fatal flaws in the machines..."

3. Which pilot marches into General Schwichenberg's office, throws an enema bag on his desk, and refuses to give himself any more enemas?

4. In what year does the story begin?

5. What does Gus Grissom find to be the strangest experience for him in the beginning of the press conference?

Short Essay Questions

1. Jane Conrad sees a real man going to her front door and realizes it wasn't one of her hallucinations. Who is the man and why is he there?

2. Contrast flight training with astronaut training.

3. What is the begrudging consensus finally reached from the Konakai Séance regarding their "off hours" behavior?

4. In 1952 at Edwards Air Force Base, 62 Air Force pilots died in the course of a 36-week training session. In 11 weeks of combat training at Nellis Air Force Base, 22 pilot trainees were killed. In Pete Conrad's own class in Florida, 10 out of 20 had been killed. In the opinion of the pilots, these rates of death are considered "extraordinary," yet they really are not. Why?

5. What is the procedures trainer?

6. Describe Jane Conrad's nightmares and hallucinations?

7. Why is the book titled "The Right Stuff"?

8. The engineers tend to feel that the glorification of the astronauts has really gotten out of control. Why do they feel that way?

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

10. Why do Chuck Yeager's comments in Phoenix almost set off a national scandal? What happens to avoid the scandal?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

To say that the Original Seven astronauts were looked up to would be a gross understatement; they were adored and admired national heroes. Yet, in spite of their fame, they only had one magazine, Life, that told their stories.

a. What were the reasons for the press restrictions?

b. Why was Life magazine selected?

c. In today's world, would heroes agree to only one magazine with exclusive coverage? Why or why not?

d. If the intense hype surrounding the astronauts back then surrounded them in today's environment, identify three differences in how the astronauts would have been "marketed" to the nation.

Essay Topic 3

The book is entitled "The Right Stuff".

a. In your own words, describe what is meant by the right stuff.

b. How did the pilots know if they (or the other pilots around them) had "it" or not?

c. Are there various levels of having "it"? Support your answer with an example from the book.

(see the answer keys)

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