The right stuff.

On this day in 1959 the Mercury Seven were introduced to the world.

• Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr., USN, (1923–1998)

MR-3 (Freedom 7), Apollo 14

• Virgil Ivan (Gus) Grissom, USAF, (1926–1967)

MR-4 (Liberty Bell 7), Gemini 3, Apollo 1

• John Herschel Glenn Jr., USMC, (born 1921)

MA-6 (Friendship 7), STS-95

• Malcolm Scott Carpenter, USN, (born 1925)

MA-7 (Aurora 7)

• Walter Marty (Wally) Schirra Jr., USN, (1923–2007)

MA-8 (Sigma 7), Gemini 6A, Apollo 7

• Leroy Gordon Cooper Jr., USAF, (1927–2004)

MA-9 (Faith 7), Gemini 5

• Donald Kent (Deke) Slayton, USAF, (1924–1993)

Apollo-Soyuz Test Project