Set of 2 photos: - Lot 41

Set of 2 photos: - 2 days before launch (May 13): Dr. Howard Minners of the Houston Space Center (Texas) examines Cooper’s nose and throat. Vintage NASA black-and-white print (20 cm x 25 cm) with a caption on the back, bearing the number 63-MA9-117. -The day before launch (May 15). From left to right in the photo: Donald Slayton (Director of Astronauts), astronauts Gordon Cooper and Walter Schirra, and Dr. Minners toast to the success of the upcoming mission. Vintage NASA black-and-white print (20 cm x 25 cm) captioned on the back, bearing the number 63-MA9-123. MERCURY MISSIONS - The first U.S. manned space program: Six flights took place between May 5, 1961, and May 15, 1963: -Alan Shepard (first American in space): May 5, 1961 -Gus Grissom, Mercury Redstone-4 mission (July 21, 1961) -John Glenn, Mercury Atlas-6 mission (February 20, 1962) -Scott Carpenter, Mercury Atlas-7 mission (May 24, 1962) -Walter Schirra, Mercury Atlas-8 mission (October 3, 1962) -Gordon Cooper, Mercury Atlas-9 mission (May 15, 1963)