

"How the future began."
At the dawn of the Space Race, seven test pilots set out to become the first American astronauts to enter space. However, the road to making history brings momentous challenges.
Chuck Yeager

Alan Shepard

John Glenn

Gordon Cooper

Gus Grissom

Glennis Yeager

Pancho Barnes

Betty Grissom

Trudy Cooper

Deke Slayton

Scott Carpenter

Wally Schirra

Lyndon B. Johnson

Jack Ridley / Narrator

Annie Glenn

Scott Crossfield

Louise Shepard

Marge Slayton
Rene Carpenter
Jo Schirra
Minister

Liaison Man

Air Force Major

NASA Recruiter

NASA Recruiter

Chief Scientist

Nurse Murch
Gonzales
Head of Program

Life Reporter

Himself

Slick Goodlin

The Permanent Press Corps
The Permanent Press Corps
The Permanent Press Corps
The Permanent Press Corps

The Permanent Press Corps
The Permanent Press Corps
The Permanent Press Corps
Grand Designer

Woman Reporter

Dwight D. Eisenhower
Eddie Hodges
Aide to Lyndon B. Johnson
Woman TV Reporter
Waitress
Bell Aircraft Executive
Bell Aircraft Executive
Sally Rand
Henry Luce

Review Board President
Assistant Scientist
Game Show M.C.
1st X-1 Pilot
Aborigine

Australian Driver
Young Widow
Cocoa Beach Girl
Cocoa Beach Girl
Texan

Texan
Girl at Pancho's

Astronaut Trainee
Astronaut Trainee
Fred

New Mexico Nurse in Lobby (uncredited)
