How a steak sandwich and a secret club password defined a historic space mission

History · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: When Walter Schirra launched into orbit in 1962, he carried more than just engineering tests. Hidden in his capsule was a steak sandwich and a secret society password. This nine-hour flight proved the Mercury spacecraft could endure extended missions, setting the stage for the United States to catch up in the Space Race.

Launched on October 3, 1962, the Mercury-Atlas 8 mission served as a vital technical bridge for NASA. While the Soviet Union had already achieved multi-day flights with Vostok 3 and 4, the American program remained focused on shorter, three-orbit sorties. Schirra’s mission, dubbed Sigma 7, aimed to validate the spacecraft’s durability and the global tracking network over six orbits, providing the confidence needed to pursue a full-day flight.

The mission was strictly engineering-focused, prioritizing system evaluations over scientific discovery. Schirra tested manual attitude control, gyroscope realignment, and drifting flight modes to conserve fuel. Despite minor issues—such as a faulty temperature controller in his pressure suit and heavy cloud cover that obscured planned observations—the mission was a success. Schirra landed with remarkable precision, splashing down just half a mile from the recovery carrier, USS Kearsarge.

Beyond the technical data, the mission offered a human glimpse into the early astronaut corps. Schirra famously used an onboard recorder to answer a colleague's query about the 'turtle club'—a private joke among pilots—to avoid broadcasting the colorful response over public radio. Upon his return, the bruising on his hand from operating the hatch switch provided a rare vindication for Gus Grissom, whose own capsule had sunk after a similar hatch deployment. This mission proved that the Mercury system was ready for the long-duration goals that would eventually define the program's conclusion.

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