NASA began astronaut selection for first crewed space mission on this day in 1959

On this day in history, January 27, 1959, National Aeronautics and ministration (NASA) began astronaut selection procedure for its first crewed mission. NASA began screening over 508 military test pilots to shortlist at least 110 candidates for its Task Group (STG) for Project Mercury, first manned program. orbital flights were expected to commence in 1961 to send first human voyrs into . Later in April, at a press conference in Washington, Glennan (NASA MINISTRATOR) introduced seven minees to public who would be called NASA "astronauts", as pioneers of ballooning h been called "Argonauts", according to a release by NASA. shortlisted pilots, Carpenter, Cooper, Glenn, Grissom, Schirra, Shepard, and Slayton were given NASA uniforms and preflight mission assignments. 

public information officer for NACA, later Glennan’s viser, laid guidelines for public affairs policy that would govern manned mission and astronauts. astronaut selection procedure was done from at least 508 service records which were screened in January 1959 by Stanley C. White, Robert B. Voas, and William S. Augerson at military personnel bureaus in Washington, according to NASA’s release on Project Mercury. Of total, as many as 110 military men met minimum requirement which included five Marines, 47 Navy men, and 58 Air Force pilots. NASA’s evaluation committee began screening dozens of Army pilots' records on this day in history that could have h a possibility to accompany manned Redstone flights for NASA planned for late 1959. 

[NASA's craft launch for Project Mercury. Credit: Twitter/@InspireEngring]

[John Glenn is first US man to orbit Earth as part of Project Mercury.  Credit: Twitter/@Heaux1currr]

“Assistant Director of STG, Charles J. Donlan, decided to divide list of 110 arbitrarily into three groups and to issue invitations for first group of 35 to come to Washington at beginning of February for briefings and interviews,” NASA informed in statement. 

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NASA’s evaluation committee interviewed first 24 shortlisted military personnel by January end, and first 10 men that were interrogated on February 2 agreed to elimination procedures unanimously. As many as sixty-nine pilot-candidates arrived in Washington in February in two groups, of which six were too tall for mission. Fifty-six pilots qualified for written tests, technical interviews, psychiatric interviews, and medical history reviews. 

“During briefings and interviews, it became apparent that final number of pilots should be smaller than twelve originally planned for. high rate of interest in project indicates that few, if any, of men will drop out during training program," George Low from NASA said in release.

He ded, "It would, refore, t be fair to men to carry along some who would t be able to participate in flight program. Consequently, a recommendation has been me to name only six finalists."

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In third phase, over 30 different laboratory tests collected chemical, encephalographic, and cardiographic data for shortlisted candidates, of which 32 were found to have a medical problem. During March, 13 psychological tests for personality and motivation were conducted by ncy and dozens were eliminated. In phase five, and final evaluation of technical qualifications, of total 18 finalists, final list was prepared.  On May 28, 1959, astronauts were brought before House Committee on Science and Astronautics and first seven American astronauts were chosen for manned mission Project Mercury. “How could anyone turn down a chance to be a part of something like this?” selected astronauts told a press briefing. 

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