U.S. Spaceman Chosen

Press, Volume C, Issue 29501, 1 May 1961, Page 13

U.S. Spaceman Chosen

CAPE CANAVERAL, April 30. One of three men pictured above has been chosen to attempt to become the first American in space, according to news agency reports. The three—drawn from the group of seven officers being trained as space pilots—form a “short list” of candidates for the ride in a space capsule at the head of a Redstone rocket, probably on Tuesday.

The identity of the man chosen was not disclosed. But Mr Robert Gilruth, the director of the man-in-space programme, Project Mercury, said yesterday that the “prime" astronaut and the "back-up" astronaut had been chosen, the Associated Press said.

United Press International quoted reliable sources as saying that the two were Navy Commander Alan B. Shepard (left), aged 37, and

Marine Colonel John H. Glen (centre), aged 39, with Commander Shepard the more likely to be the "prime astronaut.” The third man on the short list was Air Force Captain Virgil Grissom (right), aged 35. Mr Gilruth will not identify the chosen man until shortly before launching time. “A slight head cola would eliminate the prime astronaut.” he said. The National Aeronautics

and Space Administration officially announced yesterday what had been an open secret for weeks—that an attempt to loft man 115 miles into space was imminent.

The announcement said that the attempt would fake place “in the next week or so”—but it was equally well known that, barring a lastminute hitch, the first try would be made an hour after daybreak on Tuesday, May 2.