Walter M. “Wally” Schirra
Wally Schirra was one of NASA’s first seven astronauts (the Mercury Seven) and the third American to orbit the Earth.
Quick Facts
Schirra retired from the Navy as a captain and from NASA in 1969 and became a commentator with CBS Television.
His military awards included the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, three Air Medals, two NASA Distinguished Service Medals, the NASA Exceptional Service Medal and the Philippines Legion of Honor.
Apollo 7 transmitted the first television feed live into commercial networks from space during its 260-hour flight.
Walter “Wally” Schirra
Selected by NASA in 1959, Schirra was one of the Mercury Seven, the first 7 astronauts in America’s space program.
On Oct. 3, 1962, astronaut Walter M. “Wally” Schirra completed America’s third and then-longest orbital spaceflight during the Mercury-Atlas 8 mission. Naming his spacecraft Sigma 7, Schirra completed six orbits of the Earth, conducting engineering tests of his spacecraft and several experiments including photography of the planet.
Tribute to Wally Schirra
Wally Schirra, the only astronaut to fly in the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs, has died. He was 84 years old.
“With the passing of Wally Schirra, we at NASA note with sorrow the loss of yet another of the pioneers of human spaceflight,” NASA Administrator Michael Griffin said. “As a Mercury astronaut, Wally was of a member of the first group of astronauts to be selected, often referred to as the Original Seven.”
An Oral History Interview with Wally Schirra
In December 1998, Wally Schirra participated in an interview for the Johnson Space Center Oral History Project, in which he answered questions about his life and his time as a NASA astronaut.
60 Years Ago: Astronaut Schirra Orbits the Earth Six Times Aboard Sigma 7
On Oct. 3, 1962, astronaut Walter M. “Wally” Schirra completed America’s third and then-longest orbital spaceflight during the Mercury-Atlas 8…
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The Mercury Seven
On October 7, 1958, shortly after NASA opened for business, it announced its first major undertaking, Project Mercury. The objectives were threefold: to place a human spacecraft into orbital flight around Earth, observe human performance in such conditions, and recover the human and the spacecraft safely. In January 1959, the committee received and screened 508 service records of a group of talented test pilots, of which seven were ultimately chosen.
Learn More about The Mercury Seven
The Mercury Seven
Mercury-Atlas 8: Sigma 7
Manned mission in orbit for 9 hours. Walter M. Schirra was the astronaut who flew on this mission.
Learn More About Mercury-Atlas 8: Sigma 7
Gemini VI
Gemini VI-A was the fifth crewed Earth-orbiting spacecraft of the Gemini series, having been launched after Gemini VII, with the intent of making rendezvous with Gemini VII in Earth orbit.
Learn More About Gemini VI
Apollo 7
The first crewed flight of the Apollo program. The mission objectives were to demonstrate the Command and Service Module (CSM) with crew performance; demonstrate mission support facilities’ performance during a…
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