Press Conference Introducing 7 Mercury Astronauts 1959 Part 1/3

[numbersCH31vs17]

I had to look this up while reading John Glenn's memoir. Excellent read by the way, I highly recommend it.

[XL290]

Lots of smoking back then, real healthy living in 1959

[davmodf]

Those guys would be pissed if they knew that within 50 years the US space program and the great economy that sent men to the moon had fizzled because of corporate greed and complacency of the American people. I know I am.

[Larrymh07]

Even Glenn & Carpenter smoked back then, and they were the 2 in the best physical condition. Only Cooper didn't smoke. They all more or less gave up smoking after being chosen as astronauts, but the habit still dogged some of them for quite a while, as it does most of us.

[squidoogeek]

Heehee I know why Deke Slayton has that look on his face. Alan Shepard pulled a "gotcha" on him and told him there was something on his tie. (There wasn't really.)

[nenzi671]

Very historic & nostalgic. The press conference was a little different in the movie except for the Glenn speech. It took some guts to sit atop a nuclear missle not knowing if it would explode or fly. Thanks for posting.

[guyfroml]

Boy, can you tell they really had no concept back them of "press conference preparation." It's easy to see NASA then didn't worry about rehearsing for potential questions. Very off the cuff fielding of questions and answering them.

[tuttt99]

Shepard was a hottie!

[JohndotMcGuire]

Wow General Smokes

[noacronym]

I'll never forget when we lost Gus, Ed, and Roger. I just turned 10, and when that fire happened that January, I never got over it. To this day, something about it causes me a sense of denial.

[youvebeenthunderstru]

Poor Gus Grissom. Had probably the worst luck of any astronaut. He didn't know it yet.

[Tamitza]

you're right...:((

[squidoogeek]

@youvebeenthunderstru Yeah, he did. First his space capsule sinking on them, and then the corned beef sandwich incident, and then Apollo 1. That can really dog a guy.

[Larrymh07]

@youvebeenthunderstru He did have his Gemini flight that went very well. It lifted the cloud of the Liberty Bell incident further off of him.

[mandaFACE]

@youvebeenthunderstru :(

[mathieuplaneur]

Those guys are my hereos :)

[deltasevenma7]

Deke Slayton, Our hometown hero!

[JONNOG88]

This is fascinating stuff.

But this is somewhat more subdued and reserved then that scence in the Right Stuff.

Great film by the way.

I mean the it was one of the most exciting scenes in the film.

Oh well Hollywood let its imagination run wild again.

[DrTWG]

@JONNOG88 I'm just rereading Tom Wolfe's "The Right Stuff" and he portrays the press conference somewhat differently than it appears here. It's a fascinating book nonetheless and very very well written - read it if you haven't.

[vachalia]

I can't believe these guys were allowed to smoke cigarettes, let alone in public.

[sja11]

hey they also thought only white men should be astronauts too.

times change.

[at1212b]

Ok, white men founded the country therefore being on top of the pyramid. They were the first to be educated. They also were the most prevalent as test pilots and being top pilots in WWII. They passed the tests necessary for this selection.

Quite hypocritical for making a stereotypical statement of the very same people you are criticizing (this coming from a visible minority)

[sja11]

You're right that white men were the most prevalent test pilots back then, but what do you think that is based on?

Maybe the fact that very few minorities were able to get to be test pilots based on their race?

Minorities were excluded from jobs like that because of the racial attitude of the country.

I'm sure there might have been some black aviators from the Korean War that could have gotten test pilot jobs.

Your argument that i'm being hypocritical or stereotypical is incredibly weak.

[at1212b]

Well, you should have included that piece of 'argument'. Its not my fault you didn't 'elaborate' on your initial statement there and then attacking a statement I made based on a statement you made.

In other words, I would have to believe you would benefit greatly if you didn't pout your lips like that.

[sja11]

Explaining my point is pouting my lips? I don't like being called hypocritical by someone trying (and miserably failing) to sound smart.

I can't even follow the illogical comment you just made because it sounds like the ramblings of a mental patient.

[at1212b]

There there... Trying to make up for your deficient understanding and inability to take any sort of blame for something you erred in. How sad.

[sja11]

I get dumber just reading your words, its contagious.

You really have no clue.

[sja11]

haha "blame for something I erred in?" That's rich.

Thanks for the laugh.

[DrTWG]

@sja11 There's no doubt that the US was a discriminatory country in the early 60's.

Kennedy did want a black astronaut and one guy was comsidered - he just didn't match the criteria they we're looking for. There should have been more to choose from.

[DrTWG]

@vachalia The dangers of cigarette smoking were not really known then and it was just socially acceptable. Times change.

[carmenpr1118]

i am a astronaut

[Dremple]

Yes, ..I'm sure you are.

[ashleydoogah]

Thanks for posting this!! This is seriously AWESOME

[dasfmn1997]

I was watching The Right Stuff the other day, so it's intersting to compare the movie press conference with the real thing. The movie press conference was almost like a rock concert - the audience was cheering, clapping non-stop, and almost out of control. As you can see, the real press conference is more professional and subdued (and longer). John Glenn's comment concerning medical tests about "different openings in the body" is funny in part 3. Thank you for posting this video!