Together with the Mercury astronauts they worked on Project Gemini. The group included Neil Armstrong, Frank Borman, Pete Conrad, Jim Lovell, Jim McDivitt, Elliot See, Tom Stafford, Ed White, and John Young.

Thus in the fall of 1962 the so-called “Next Nine” came on board. This would require, among other things, for NASA to bring on more astronauts. After Shepard flew into history as the first American in space, in 1961, President John Kennedy declared that the United States was committing to sending Americans to the Moon before the decade ended. Formed in 1959 and nicknamed the Mercury Seven, this elite collection of pilots included Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Gus Grissom, Wally Schirra, Alan Shepard, and Deke Slayton. The goal of the first group of NASA astronauts was to launch Americans in space and, ultimately, into orbit. With dinner over, the group headed over to the Moon mapping offices, where officials briefed the astronauts on lunar geography and geology while teaching them about the ACIC’s mapping efforts. Then Bernice (Henry’s wife) made some smart remark about the only experience she knew about exploring the Moon was when the cow jumped over it, which cracked everybody up, and the party took on a much more relaxed and informal mood.” “Even though before-dinner libations were served, things started out rather stiffly with all the NASA brass on their good behavior. Years later Lowell astronomer Henry Giclas recalled the event. The astronauts, trainers, and other dignitaries enjoyed a buffet dinner prepared by Hall’s wife Ruth. The group later traveled to Sunset Crater to study volcanic features.Īfter this daytime training, Lowell director John Hall hosted dinner for about 35 people at his recently built Lowell Observatory home. Geological Survey astrogeologists Gene Shoemaker and Charles Marshall taught the astronauts about this distinct impact structure that serves as an excellent analog to similar features on the Moon. The group first went to Meteor Crater, where U.S.

Inge continued on through the end of the program in 1969 and played a key role in developing the last product of Lowell’s ACIC office, a spectacular 16-inch-diameter lunar globe that surpassed all previous ones in details and accuracy. Bridges eventually left the ACIC office to raise her kids, opening the door for another talented illustrator, Jay Inge, to take her place. The ACIC effort expanded during its time at Lowell, adding another telescope, enlarged office space, and a motion picture camera for supplementing the visual observations through the telescope. Telescope observers made primary observations through the Clark and then Bridges used these basic drawings, supplemented by lunar photographs and her own observations through the Clark, to craft her maps. The airbrush technique resulted in maps rich in detail and character. For the first several years, the talented young artist, Patricia Bridges, served as the primary illustrator.Ĭannell managed the office and for the first several years a talented young artist, Patricia Bridges, served as the primary illustrator, using an airbrush to record artistic yet accurate renderings of mountains, craters, valleys, and other features of the Moon.

Online telescope drawing