|
Author
|
Topic: Photo of the week 555 (June 13, 2015)
|
heng44
Member Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
|
posted 06-13-2015 02:07 AM
   
 Astronauts Scott Carpenter, John Glenn, Gordon Cooper and Wally Schirra read all about the Mercury-Redstone 3 flight in the Miami Herald of Saturday, May 6, 1961. Although Carpenter is reading the comics page and Schirra seems more interested in a 'big sale!', other photos in this series show the astronauts reading articles about Alan Shepard's successful suborbital flight the day before. |
MCroft04
Member Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
|
posted 06-13-2015 07:34 AM
They may be calmly reading the newspaper but I bet each of them was thinking "that should have been me!" |
Joel Katzowitz
Member Posts: 808
From: Marietta GA USA
Registered: Dec 1999
|
posted 06-13-2015 07:45 AM
I wonder if the photo was candid or staged. |
randy
Member Posts: 2176
From: West Jordan, Utah USA
Registered: Dec 1999
|
posted 06-13-2015 07:55 AM
I too wonder if it was staged or candid. |
bruce
Member Posts: 916
From: Fort Mill, SC, USA
Registered: Aug 2000
|
posted 06-13-2015 08:30 AM
Well, Scott is reading the funnies, so I would say it's probably staged! |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 2915
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
|
posted 06-13-2015 10:31 AM
Nice shot, and don't know if staged or not, but interesting to note that it does show all the Mercury-Atlas astronaut pilots.
|
mach3valkyrie
Member Posts: 719
From: Albany, Oregon
Registered: Jul 2006
|
posted 06-13-2015 01:19 PM
Meanwhile, astronauts Grissom and Slayton had gone to Grand Bahama Island to accompany Alan Shepard back to the Cape.Maybe these guys are waiting for breakfast. Just hangin' out, like astronauts do. |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 2915
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
|
posted 06-13-2015 02:32 PM
Actually, from my understanding, all four of them here (Glenn, Carpenter, Schirra, and Cooper) flew over to Grand Bahama Island that same afternoon on May 5, 1961, to assist their first spaceman buddy in Shepard's 2-day extensive debriefing on the Island. Grissom and Slayton had already been there a few hours earlier, however, I don't know why the photo caption is recorded (or is it?) on May 6 back at the Cape! |
Jonnyed
Member Posts: 396
From: Dumfries, VA, USA
Registered: Aug 2014
|
posted 06-13-2015 05:59 PM
And what do you make of the suit (Carpenter) and sport coat (Schirra)? Perhaps anticipating press events or public appearances along the way. Not everyone is in casual wear (golf shirt) like John Glenn! |
Philip
Member Posts: 5952
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
|
posted 06-14-2015 03:19 AM
The tablets (tabloids) of their day.  |
heng44
Member Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
|
posted 06-14-2015 12:05 PM
Did they indeed fly to Grand Bahama Island? I haven't seen any photos of them together before they all met in Washington on May 8. This would certainly be a photo opportunity not to be missed. Any chance you are thinking of Glenn's flight in February 1962, when the six of them (minus Cooper, who was in Australia) met on Grand Turk Island? |
Cozmosis22
Member Posts: 968
From: Texas * Earth
Registered: Apr 2011
|
posted 06-14-2015 12:22 PM
That Grand Turk Island group image did come to mind. This photo is from 22 February 1962. |
heng44
Member Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
|
posted 06-15-2015 05:20 AM
I believe that the four did join Shepard, but it is not clear to me if they left Florida on May 5 or May 6. The newspaper they are reading contains photos of Shepard onboard the recovery carrier and I don't know if newspapers could already have printed that photo on the day itself. |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 2915
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
|
posted 06-15-2015 06:49 AM
The local newspapers of the Florida Space Coast reported in their May 6th issues that at least two or more of the four Mercury astronauts, still in Florida at the time, were expected to fly out to Grand Bahama Air Force Base later in the day to see Shepard.But the Tampa Tribune, as reported on May 6, indicated that "perhaps two more or all of the other astronauts are expected to see Shepard tomorrow morning." That would place their visit to the Island later in the day on May 6, or did they mean May 7? As it turned out, all four of them (Glenn, Carpenter, Schirra, and Cooper) did fly over to the Island's air base later in the day on May 5, as well-known aerospace author and historian Colin Burgess reported. In Burgess's new book, "Freedom 7: The Historic Flight of Alan B. Shepard, Jr,"
he indicates that all four did in fact make the trip from the Cape to Grand Bahama "later in the day" to be with Shepard, and he goes on to say, "so that the entire (astronaut) group could hear Shepard give an account of his experiences and indicate what they might expect when making their own missions." |
heng44
Member Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
|
posted 06-15-2015 09:54 AM
Thanks Ken, after reading that section of Colin's book again I agree. Fact remains that the four astronauts are reading about Shepard's flight in either the Miami Herald of late May 5 (if it was an evening paper) or of May 6. May 7 was a Sunday. On Monday they were all in Washington to meet JFK. |
Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1306
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
|
posted 06-15-2015 11:44 AM
Good detective work. I have yet to see a group photo of all seven with JFK on May 8th in Washington. |
onesmallstep
Member Posts: 1310
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007
|
posted 06-15-2015 12:11 PM
Not quite a group shot of all Mercury 7 with JFK and Jackie, but a photo taken two years later after Cooper's flight when six of the seven (with their wives) were on hand for the NASA Distinguished Service Medal presentation to Gordo. Front and center is Cooper sitting on Kennedy's rocker, with POTUS in the background. |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 2915
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
|
posted 06-15-2015 04:00 PM
Yes, Ed, all seven of them arrived at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland at 8:45 a.m. on May 8th after a jetliner flight from the Grand Bahama air base.It was a busy day for Shepard as he got a medal, had a private chat with President Kennedy, was given a reception by Congress, and held a nationally televised news conference. Upon their arrival at Andrews, Shepard was reunited with his wife and parents of Derry, NH, and there was a brief airbase welcoming ceremony. Next on the big day's agenda was a quick helicopter flight, with all the astronauts aboard, to the south lawn of The White House 14 miles away. The First Lady welcomed the Shepard group and President Kennedy, "from the ground up," awarded Shepard the NASA's Distinguished Service Medal. The only previous such medal award was in 1959 to John Crowley (I've never heard of him before), who had retired after 38 years of government service and was honored for his contribution to our nation's aircraft, missile, and spacecraft programs. It had to be a great day in American space history, huh, but it was surprising not to see any photos of all seven with the president. If not by NASA nor any other governmental agencies, how about the news media covering the post-flight celebrations? |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3208
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
|
posted 06-15-2015 10:33 PM
Photo KN-C30160 from the JFK Library shows President Kennedy with all seven Mercury astronauts on 10 October 1963. |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 2915
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
|
posted 06-16-2015 06:27 AM
Great shot, LM-12, and I wonder if its the only one of our nation's first spacemen with President Kennedy. But wasn't there a similar shot when Glenn was at the White House with Kennedy after his first orbital space feat? |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3208
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
|
posted 06-16-2015 10:40 AM
The Collier Trophy ceremony at the White House on 10 October 1963 shown in photo KN-C30160 is not the only time that all eight men were together, but it is the only time I have seen "posed" photos of them so far.The DSM ceremony for John Glenn was at Hangar S at Cape Canaveral. The only Mercury astronaut not there was Gordon Cooper. All the Mercury astronauts were at the DSM ceremony for Alan Shepard at the White House in 1961. Perhaps that is the event you are thinking of, Ken. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3208
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
|
posted 06-19-2015 10:03 PM
Not a posed photo, but if you look very closely, you can see all seven Mercury astronauts with JFK in photo KN-C17762 taken at the DSM ceremony for Alan Shepard at the White House in May 1961.Left to right: Slayton (in grey suit next to pillar), Shepard, Schirra, Glenn, Grissom (behind Glenn), Cooper (behind James Webb), JFK and Carpenter. Slayton can be better seen in photo JFKWHP-ST-A14-2-61.
|
LM-12
Member Posts: 3208
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
|
posted 06-22-2015 02:51 PM
JFK presented the NASA Distinguished Service Medal to Shepard, Glenn and Cooper. Cooper was not at the Glenn ceremony, and Glenn was not at the Cooper ceremony.James Webb presented the NASA DSM to Grissom, Carpenter and Schirra after their Mercury flights. When did Slayton receive his DSM? |
onesmallstep
Member Posts: 1310
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007
|
posted 06-25-2015 10:24 AM
Slayton received the first of his three DSMs in 1965. In some biographies it is incorrectly listed as four. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3208
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
|
posted 07-05-2015 03:23 AM
On 18 July 1962, JFK presented the Collier Trophy to X-15 pilots Scott Crossfield, Joseph Walker, Robert White and Forrest Petersen. That was the day after White's altitude record flight (at the time) of 314,750 feet which gave him astronaut status. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3208
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
|
posted 07-19-2015 10:58 PM
Here is a LIFE photo of all seven Mercury astronauts on Grand Bahama Island in July 1961 after Grissom's flight. |
Ken Havekotte
Member Posts: 2915
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001
|
posted 07-21-2015 05:22 AM
Love that picture of all the original 7 on Grand Bahama after Grissom's sub-space feat. They all look so relaxed and note the special glasses that Grissom is wearing, I think, maybe a requirement from the post-flight medical team. And not to mention Gus' "cool" short pants and long dark socks; yes indeed, it was a different cultural-fashion era in 1961. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3208
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
|
posted 07-21-2015 01:32 PM
I like the photo too. There is a similar image that is better framed, but Glenn is hidden behind Cooper.Also there on Grand Bahama Island: Dee O'Hara, Bob Gilruth, Bill Douglas, Walt Williams, James Webb, Shorty Powers. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3208
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
|
posted 07-23-2015 01:45 AM
This British Pathe newsreel of Shepard's flight includes footage taken on Grand Bahama Island. Slayton and Grissom can be seen arriving on the island before Shepard's plane lands. I don't see any other Mercury astronauts. |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
|
posted 07-23-2015 10:41 AM
Ken you mean I shouldn't pull up my socks like that? 😄Wally looks like he could lose a few pounds! |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3208
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
|
posted 07-23-2015 10:45 AM
Maybe some other time. They are heading to the mess hall. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3208
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
|
posted 12-18-2015 07:14 PM
quote:
Originally posted by LM-12:
you can see all seven Mercury astronauts with JFK in photo KN-C17762 taken at the DSM ceremony for Alan Shepard at the White House in May 1961
Here is some nice footage of the Shepard ceremony from Mark Gray. |
Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1306
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
|
posted 12-24-2015 01:24 PM
I never saw that photo before. Yes I have to agree, Wally could lose a few pounds. I also have to say I would not have bought a used car from Grissom. |
advertisement