THE SEVEN CHOSEN

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Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr., 35, Navy lieutenant commander; 160 lbs., 5 ft. 11 in., blue eyes, brown hair. Christian Scientist. Born: East Derry, N.H.; graduated U.S. Naval Academy, '44 (462nd in a class of 913). In World War II, Al Shepard saw Pacific combat on the destroyer Cogswell, then won his wings ('47), and after a Mediterranean tour with the fleet qualified as a test pilot, flew high-altitude research missions, helped develop the Navy's in-flight refueling system and carrier landings of the F2H-3 Banshee. With 3,600 flight hours (1,700 in jets), he was tapped as a fast-rising comer, sent to the Naval War College ('58), then got the key job of aircraft readiness officer for the Atlantic Fleet. Says his wife Louise: "He is always reading technical manuals and the big policy-type journals, the kind the admirals and generals say should be read. He is one of those lucky men—his work is his hobby."

Leroy Gordon Cooper Jr., 32, Air Force captain, 150 lbs., 5 ft. 9½ in., blue eyes, brown hair. Methodist. Born: Shawnee, Okla. After a hitch in the Marines he attended the University of Hawaii, got an Army commission, transferred to the Air Force. Rolled up 2,300 flying hours (1,400 in jets), graduated Air Force Institute of Technology, '56 (aeronautical engineering), was test pilot for experimental fighters at Edwards Air Force Base.

Virgil Ivan Grissom, 33, Air Force captain, 155 lbs., 5 ft. 7 in., brown eyes, brown hair. Church of Christ. Born: Mitchell, Ind.; graduated Purdue University, '50 (mechanical engineering). "Gus" Grissom broke in as a World War II air cadet, then went back to school, rejoined in 1950, flew 100 Korean combat missions (D.F.C., two Air Medals). Later he took advanced work in aeronautical engineering at Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio, became a test pilot, logged up 3,200 flight hours (2,100 in jets). Says he: "My career has been in service to my country, and here is another opportunity to serve."

Donald Kent Slayton, 35, Air Force captain; 160 lbs., 5 ft. 10½ in., blue eyes, brown hair. Lutheran. Born: Sparta, Wis.; graduated University of Minnesota, '49 (aeronautical engineering). Signed on as an aviation cadet in 1942, in World War II bombed Europe (56 missions) and Japan (seven missions), won two Air Medals. Discharged, he went back to school, put in 1½ years as aeronautical engineer for Boeing aircraft. Recalled in 1951, he served in Germany, was picked as a test pilot, recorded 3,400 flight hours (2,000 in jets). Says he: "We have gone about as far as we can on this globe. We have to go somewhere, and space is all that is left." And he adds: "I would give my left arm to be the first man in space."