MISS would have used a
Thor booster, then later an
Atlas, to launch a single-man spacecraft into orbit. On June 25, 1958, the Air Force announced the following nine men selected to be astronauts for the program: •
Neil A. Armstrong (1930–2012), 27,
NACA. The only member of the group to join the
NASA Astronaut Corps. Flew on
Gemini 8 and
Apollo 11 missions; performed the first docking of two spacecraft, was the first—along with
Buzz Aldrin—to land on the
Moon, and was the first person to set foot on the Moon. •
William B. Bridgeman (1916–1968), 42,
Douglas Aircraft Company •
A. Scott Crossfield (1921–2006), 36,
North American Aviation (NAA) •
Iven C. Kincheloe (1928–1958), 29, USAF •
John B. McKay (1922–1975), 35, NACA •
Robert A. Rushworth (1924–1993), 33, USAF •
Joseph A. Walker (1921–1966), 37, NACA. The first member of the group to achieve outer space according to the
FAI, and to enter space twice, on two
X-15 test flights. •
Alvin S. White (1918–2006), 39, NAA •
Robert M. White (1924–2010), 33, USAF. The first member of the group to achieve outer space according to the
USAF. ==See also==