an interesting insight into the united state space program and begin with the exploit of fighter pilot chuck yeager ( sam shephard ) and conclude with the dramatic flight of the first astronaut . those astronaut the mercury 7 pilot be a varied group of aviator and they be all pretty interesting guy . john glenn ( ed harris ) get favorable treatment in here among the group . gordon cooper might be the wild with the cocky and humorous dennis quaid play him . overall and it a good cast include not just the flier but their wife . i also enjoy scott glenn a alan shepard and barbara hershey a yeager wife . yeager feat be perhaps the most interesting and they set a fast tone to this 3 hour film a we witness him break several sound barrier record prior to the formation of the astronaut team . then we be treat to a long but interesting segment of how those first astronaut be train . the only unnecessary and ludicrous part of this film be the one on lyndon johnson and where they make him into a total fool . it be a if the screen writer have a personal vendetta against him and to make him look almost like a cartoon figure . and the bit with the australian aborigine smack too much of hollywood love affair with tribal religion . i sincerely doubt some spark from a fire on earth could be see mile and mile above in space . at any rate and this be an informative look at a period in our history than come and go way too fast . sad to say and most people know very little about those first astronaut and who be true hero . at least this film give them their due and as well a to yeager and who deserve this tribute and too .