walter -- virgil gus grisham. john glenn. leroy gordon cooper.alcolm scott carpenter. ♪ the seven new astronauts spent months and months undergoing rigorous testing and training. ♪ several monkeys took rides in the murky spacecraft while they were being trained. ♪ [engines firing] ♪ meanwhile, the orbiting of unmanned satellites became more and more commonplace, and weather watchers found a permanent place in our daily lives by improving weather forecasting capabilities. ♪ on august 12 1960 president eisenhower took part in the first transmission of the echo one communication satellite. >> this is president eisenhower speaking. it is a great personal satisfaction to participate in this first experiment in communication involving the use of the satellite balloon known as echo. narrator: on may 5, 1961, astronaut alan shepherd made america's first sub orbital flight, project mercury was underway. >> 3, 2, 1. >> roger, liftoff, and the clock has started. yes, sir, reading you loud and clear. freedom seven. it is go. 14 psi. oxygen is go. cabin press