Wally Schirra
American astronaut (1923–2007)
Walter Marty Schirra Jr. (/ʃɜːrˈɑː/, March 12, 1923 – May 3, 2007) was an American naval aviator, test pilot, and NASA astronaut. In 1959, he became one of the original seven astronauts chosen for Project Mercury.
Walter M. Schirra Jr. | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Walter Marty Schirra Jr. March 12, 1923 Hackensack, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | May 3, 2007 (aged 84) San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | United States |
| Other names | Wally Schirra |
| Alma mater | Newark College of Engineering USNA, B.S. 1945 |
| Occupation(s) | Naval aviator, test pilot |
| Awards | |
| Space career | |
| NASA Astronaut | |
| Rank |  Captain, USN |
Time in space | 12d 7h 12m |
| Selection | 1959 NASA Group 1 |
| Missions | Mercury-Atlas 8 Gemini 6A Apollo 7 |
Mission insignia |    |
| Retirement | July 1, 1969 |
In October 1968, he commanded Apollo 7, an 11-day low Earth orbit shakedown test of the three-man Apollo Command/Service Module and the first crewed launch for the Apollo program.
Schirra died on May 3, 2007, of a heart attack caused by stomach cancer in San Diego, California. He was 84 years old.[1][2]
References
change- ↑ Burgess, Colin (2011). Selecting the Mercury Seven. New York: Springer. p. 336. ISBN 978-1-4419-8405-0.
- ↑ Goldstein, Richard (May 4, 2007). "Walter M. Schirra Jr., Astronaut, Dies at 84". The New York Times. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
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