Navy pilot Alan Shepard helped plan Mercury's worldwide communication system.

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Florida Governor Jeb Bush made parental choice his top priority, spending considerable time and political capital to pilot his plan through a not-always-enthusiastic legislature.

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The pilot scrapped the plan to fast-rope and focussed on getting the aircraft down.

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Stabilizing their altitude at 10, 000 feet, the Navy pilot initiated the emergency destruct plan for the sensitive data and equipment on board -- and considered ditching the plane into the sea.

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