1923 – 2007

Wally Schirra

American astronaut (1923–2007)

autobiographerUnited States Naval Aviatormilitary flight engineertest pilotbusinessperson

Born

1923-03-12, Hackensack

Died

2007-05-03

Birthplace state

New Jersey

Biography

Wally Schirra was born in Hackensack, New Jersey, in 1923 and worked as a naval aviator, test pilot, and astronaut. In 1959, he was selected as one of the original seven astronauts for Project Mercury. He flew the Mercury-Atlas 8 mission in October 1962 aboard a spacecraft he called Sigma 7, completing six orbits over nine hours. In December 1965, he piloted Gemini VI-A during the first crewed space rendezvous, maneuvering to within one foot of Gemini VII. He commanded Apollo 7 in October 1968, a crewed test of the Apollo Command and Service Module in low Earth orbit lasting eleven days. Schirra died in 2007.

Occupation

Wally Schirra is recorded as a autobiographer, a United States Naval Aviator, a military flight engineer, a test pilot, a businessperson and a astronaut, born in New Jersey (1923–2007).

Connections to New Jersey

Wally Schirra was born in Hackensack, New Jersey in 1923. Explore other notable figures from New Jersey, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from New Jersey›New Jerseyhistory ›Historic sites in New Jersey›

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Wally Schirra came from Hackensack. A full Aubrey report on Hackensack pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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More notable figures from New Jersey

Other historical figures born in New Jersey, ranked by historical prominence.

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President of the United States (1885–89; 1893–97)

Whitney Houston

American singer, actress, and film producer (1963–2012)

Frank Sinatra

American singer and actor (1915–1998)

Allen Ginsberg

American poet and writer (1926–1997)

James Gandolfini

American actor (1961–2013)

Philip Roth

American novelist (1933–2018)

James Fenimore Cooper

American writer (1789–1851)

Frequently asked about Wally Schirra

Who was Wally Schirra?

Wally Schirra was American astronaut (1923–2007), born in New Jersey (1923 – 2007).

When and where was Wally Schirra born?

Wally Schirra was born on 1923-03-12 in Hackensack.

When did Wally Schirra die?

Wally died on 2007-05-03.

What was Wally Schirra known for?

Wally Schirra is recorded as a autobiographer, a United States Naval Aviator, a military flight engineer, a test pilot, a businessperson and a astronaut.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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