Echoes Among the Stars: The Original Website
The First Era in Space, 1957-1975
Mercury: Sigma 7
October 3, 1962
Mercury Rising: Wally Schirra
Launched aboard Sigma 7 on October 3, 1962, Wally Schirra spent more than nine hours in space during the fifth Mercury mission. NASA photo.
Mission Control
In the early years of the U.S. space program, NASA had the dual tasks of ensuring the safety and success of each mission while at the same time ensuring the proper use and functioning of all its systems, equipment, and procedures. This view of Mission Control, taken during the Sigma 7 flight, provides some small hint of the progam’s complex nature. NASA photo.
Sigma 7 Splashdown
Following the dangerous ordeals of Gus Grissom, John Glenn, and Scott Carpenter on their Mercury flights, Wally Schirra enjoyed a virtually flawless flight aboard Sigma 7. Here he returns to earth after spending nearly nine hours in space, and accomplishing all of the mission’s major objectives, which were becoming more complex with each flight. NASA photo.
