Space

WALTER M. SCHIRRA
(CAPTAIN, USN, RET.)

Born in Hackensack,
New Jersey on March 12, 1923, Walter "Wally" Schirra was one of the original seven astronauts for Mercury 7 Project in 1959.
Schirra was the only astronaut to fly in three of the pioneering space programs: Mercury, Gemini and Apollo.

Selected by NASA as one of the first group of astronauts. Others selected: Gordon Cooper, Scott Carpenter, John Glenn, Alan Shepard, Gus
Grissom and Deke Slayton.

NASA Flights:

October 3, 1962 - Fifth Project Mercury flight. He orbited the Earth six
times

December 15, 1965 - Commander of the Gemini 6 flight.

October 11, 1968 - Commander of Apollo
7, first manned flight of the Apollo spacecraft and the Saturn 1B
rocket. Crew mates: Walter Cunningham and Donn Eisele. Mission lasted 11 days.

Schirra retired from the Navy and NASA in 1969.

Schirra co-authored several books, including: "The Real Space Cowboys" with Ed Buckbee, and "Schirra's Space" with Richard N. Billings.