NASA the National Aeronautics and Space Administration introduces America's first astronauts to the world, Scott Carpenter, L. Gordon Cooper Jr., John H. Glenn Jr., Virgil "Gus" Grissom, Walter Schirra Jr., Alan Shepard Jr., and Donald Slayton to take part in Project Mercury, America's first manned space program.

As oil prices continue to rise major debates are continuing in Government over the increased use of Nuclear power for electricity production or increasing the number of Coal Fired plants with opponents on both sides due to safety and environmental concerns The price of a gallon of gas had changed from 40 cents in 1973 to 55 cents in 1974 an increase of 36% in 12 months.