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Author
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Topic: Photo of the week 481 (January 11, 2014)
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heng44
Member Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 01-11-2014 02:19 AM
   
 A special photo today for my friend Anne. Happy Birthday, Anne! |
moorouge
Member Posts: 2454
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 01-11-2014 03:06 AM
If I remember correctly, it was claimed that this was the first clue that Shepard knew he had been selected to make the first Mercury flight, this before the official announcement. |
Headshot
Member Posts: 864
From: Vancouver, WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 01-11-2014 08:40 AM
I have seen this picture before and have always thought that it was a great story-telling picture all by itself. But is it the entire image? I never noticed this before, but where is Gus Grissom? |
Joel Katzowitz
Member Posts: 808
From: Marietta GA USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 01-11-2014 08:50 AM
Maybe Gus took the picture!!! Ha.The photo says so much about Shepard and the rest of the group. A true candid moment preserved for history. Love it! |
heng44
Member Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 01-11-2014 08:55 AM
The photo was taken during a press meeting in February 1961 and Grissom was not present. |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 01-11-2014 12:06 PM
I'm going to go waaaay out on a limb here and try to describe the emotions I think I see. Front to back: - Cooper looks disappointed. It should have been me.
- Slayton looks thoughtful. Why him and not me?
- Glenn looks amused. You think you've won but I'm playing a longer game.
- Shepard looks incredulous at winning the first big competition. (This is not in keeping with writing about his large ego.)
- Carpenter looks neutral. Could he truly have been happy for Al?
- Schirra looks anticipatory. I'll get you back for this, just wait and see.
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-11-2014 12:20 PM
Gary, a nice try though by the time this photo was taken, the seven knew that Shepard had been selected since the previous month (they were informed by Gilruth on Jan. 19 and would keep the secret until May 2, when it was made public).This is a LIFE magazine photo, so I suspect Shepard was more likely hamming it up for Ralph Morse than tipping his hand on having been chosen for the first Mercury flight... |
RangeZero
Member Posts: 28
From: Indiana, USA
Registered: Jun 2006
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posted 01-11-2014 02:44 PM
Regardless of the circumstances, it's a great image. Thanks for sharing it. |
blue_eyes
Member Posts: 165
From: North Carolina, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 01-11-2014 02:53 PM
OH LORDY.... Best birthday photo-gift EVER!!!!!Ed, my dear friend, THANK YOU. As long as I live, I will never ever forget this photo on this birthday! I will remember sitting through a TORNADO today — hunkered down, only to emerge afterwards and find THIS FACE of Shepard, gleefully grinning at me on the computer!! Hooray!!! How's that for winning combo?! It just doesn't get any better than this. Of course, seeing that raw emotion in Shepard, the twinkle in Glenn's eye — this photo totally brings back those memories of meeting them when I was little... of sitting on Shepard's lap, gazing at and tracing his big teeth with my finger, hearing his voice so confident and positive as it convinced me that I could do anything noble in life. It's visceral to see them here... one can almost sense the fibers in their suits and the electricity in the air! Stunning and human, all at once. BIG WOW. And that makes this the best birthday ever! It just makes me wonder though: who is the real space hero of the day today? Alan Shepard? John Glenn? ...or Ed Hengeveld?!  |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 01-11-2014 05:10 PM
I love that photo.The Mercury 7 never shied away from striking a pose. My favourite M7 is the desert survival one at Stead AFB where (again) Shepard holds centre stage. I have seven individual cards inscribed by each astronaut to the M/sgt who was training them. This has inspired me to mount them with said photo.
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