Sigma 7 : the six Mercury orbits of Walter M. Schirra, Jr. /

Project Mercury was the first United States space program that involved humans traveling into space. Sigma 7 was the aircraft used for the Mercury-Atlas, or MA-8, mission with six orbits on October 3, 1962. Astronaut Wally Schirra manned this solo spaceflight and went on to fly Gemini 6A in December 1965 and Apollo 7 in October 1968. Schirra's other notable achievements include being the first human to fly in space three times and the only astronaut to fly with the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions. This book includes an early biography for Schirra and details of the Sigma 7 spaceflight, with the events leading up to the flight and post-flight activities. The author includes many outstanding and interesting historical photographs, such as mission training, publicity photos of the Mercury astronauts, and visits with President John F. Kennedy. This book will make a great addition to the library of any enthusiasts interested in the history of the space program. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers. --John Z. Kiss, UNC-Greensboro