NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Mercury 7 50th Anniversary

The Mercury 7 astronauts examining their "couches." Each astronaut had his own couch specifically molded to fit his body to help withstand the G-loads of the launch. Plaster casts of the astronauts were created in order to properly mold the couches. Left to right: Alan Sheppard, John Glenn, Walter Schirra, Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, Deke Slayton, Gus Grissom and Bob Gilruth. Gilruth was Director of the Space Task Group, which planned and managed the Mercury Project.