How many of the Mercury 7 are still alive?

The Mercury 7: Where Are They Now? A Look Back at America’s First Space Heroes

The Mercury 7. Just the name conjures up images of steely-eyed astronauts strapped into tiny capsules, rocketing into the unknown. These guys, also known as the Original Seven or Astronaut Group 1, were more than just pilots; they were instant celebrities, the faces of America’s burgeoning space program. Back in 1959, NASA handpicked these seven test pilots – Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Gus Grissom, Wally Schirra, Alan Shepard, and Deke Slayton – to be the first American astronauts. They were the right stuff, no doubt about it. They paved the way for everything that followed, from the Gemini missions to the Apollo moon landings. But time marches on. So, what’s the story today? How many of these legends are still with us?

Well, here’s the tough news: sadly, none of the Mercury 7 are still alive. It’s a poignant reminder that even heroes are mortal.

Let’s take a quick look back at when each of these pioneers took their final flight:

• Gus Grissom: Died way too soon, on January 27, 1967. Grissom was a true trailblazer, flying the second suborbital Mercury mission and commanding the first crewed Gemini flight. His life was tragically cut short in the Apollo 1 fire – a stark reminder of the risks these guys faced.
• Deke Slayton: He passed away on June 13, 1993. Slayton’s story is one of perseverance. Initially grounded due to a heart condition, he never gave up on his dream of reaching space. He finally got his chance on the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Talk about a comeback!
• Alan Shepard: We lost Shepard on July 21, 1998. As the first American in space, Shepard was a true icon. And, of course, he later walked on the Moon as commander of Apollo 14. What a journey!
• Gordon Cooper: Cooper died on October 4, 2004. He piloted the last Mercury mission, Mercury-Atlas 9, and also flew on Gemini 5. You have to admire that kind of dedication.
• Wally Schirra: Schirra passed away on May 3, 2007. Schirra holds a unique place in space history as the only astronaut to fly in all three of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs. Now that’s a triple threat!
• Scott Carpenter: Carpenter died on October 10, 2013. He piloted the Mercury-Atlas 7 mission. These guys were brave beyond words.
• John Glenn: The last of the Mercury 7, Glenn, passed away on December 8, 2016. He was the first American to orbit the Earth, a moment that united the nation. And get this: he flew on the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1998 at the age of 77! He became the oldest person to fly in space at the time. What a legend!

With John Glenn’s passing, we said goodbye to the last of these incredible men. But their legacy? It’s written in the stars. The Mercury 7’s courage, their commitment, their sheer audacity – it continues to inspire us to dream big and push the boundaries of what’s possible. They may be gone, but they’ll never be forgotten. Their story will keep inspiring generations to reach for the stars.