The Sputnik reaction

The president

The National Security Council

The Congress

The Department of Defense and other agencies

Creation of the Space Task Group

The AVRO Canadians

The STG organization

Representatives and contractors

The need for more people

The end of the Space Task Group

Some key project Mercury decisions and lessons learned. Facilities created for Project Mercury

Mission designs and concepts

The impact of NASA and the STG on history

Appendix 1: STG organization lists, charts, and manning

Appendix 2: Biographies

Appendix 3: STG technology

Appendix 4: Some photos

Appendix 5: Quotes

Appendix 6: Stories and trivia

Appendix 7: Author's STG experience.