Call signs. Mercury?

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05-01-2015, 06:42 AM

aa73

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Call signs. Mercury?

Hey all, trying to settle a question. how did "Mercury" end up as the call sign for Shuttle? Thx

05-01-2015, 06:49 AM

ex9driver

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I do believe it has to do with Gus Grissom, one of the original mercury astronauts who was born in Indiana. RAH is based in Indianapolis of course.

05-01-2015, 07:01 AM

aa73

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Ahh, ok makes sense. Same reasoning as Brickyard I guess.
Thx

05-01-2015, 07:03 AM

ThreeStripe

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I always thought it was bedfords first car, but this makes more sense.

05-01-2015, 07:09 AM

shfo

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And because Shuttlecraft sounded too much like Airshuttle.

05-01-2015, 07:12 AM

IlliniPilot99

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there is a statue of the Roman God Mercury in downtown Indy...which when working at Shuttle was told that was the reason (never heard the Gus Grissom story but makes sense)

05-01-2015, 07:17 AM

Loon

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This is kind of like finding the origins of "Hoosier".
I was told that the D.O., prior to barthel(from the original saab operator shuttle America)was a "treky," space geek. This is consistent with the old call sign "shuttlecraft".