The Mercury spacecraft was the vehicle used by NASA Project Mercury, the United States first human spaceflight program, carrying a single astronaut into space between 1961 and 1963. It was a small, cone shaped capsule that gave its solo occupant little room to maneuver and relied heavily on ground control, in contrast with the greater onboard control later given to Gemini and Apollo astronauts. Six crewed Mercury flights were made, beginning with Alan Shepard suborbital flight in 1961 and including John Glenn mission that made him the first American to orbit the Earth.
Facts
Spacecraft Type ManufacturerMcDonnell Aircraft Corporation 2 Status
Status (category) Connections
Associated With
Alan Shepard flew a Mercury spacecraft (Freedom 7) on the first American crewed spaceflight in 1961, and again on Apollo 14.
Source Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Additional Source Alan Shepard (Wikipedia)Wikipedia: Alan Shepard, lead section
Gus Grissom flew a Mercury spacecraft (Liberty Bell 7) on Mercury-Redstone 4 in 1961.
Source Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Additional Source Gus Grissom (Wikipedia)Wikipedia: Gus Grissom, lead section
John Glenn flew a Mercury spacecraft (Friendship 7) in 1962, the first American to orbit the Earth.
Source Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Additional Source John Glenn (Wikipedia)Wikipedia: John Glenn, lead section
Mission Of
The Mercury spacecraft was the crewed vehicle flown throughout NASA's Mercury Program.
Source Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Additional Source Wikipedia - Project MercuryWikipedia: Project Mercury, lead section
Operated By
The Mercury spacecraft was NASA's single-seat crewed capsule flown during Project Mercury, 1961-1963.
Source Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Additional Source Wikipedia - Project MercuryWikipedia: Project Mercury, spacecraft section
In the Other Atlases
Manufactured By
Also in Business Atlas: the manufacturer of this subject.
Source Orbit Codex: Mercury spacecraft recordSpacecraft Specifications: ManufacturerQuote, Spacecraft Specifications: Manufacturer
Manufacturer McDonnell Aircraft Corporation
Sources
1. Project Mercury (Wikipedia)
When Mercury ended in May 1963, both nations had sent six people into spaceView the Source 2. Wikipedia - Project Mercury
Contractors and facilities section
McDonnell Aircraft Corporation was chosen to be prime contractor for the spacecraft
Wikipedia lead section
a small, cone shaped capsule
Infobox, status
Completed
- In Group: Crewed Space Capsules, Project Mercury was the first human spaceflight program of the United States, running from 1958 through 1963. An early highlight of the Space Race, its goal was to put a man into Earth orbit
- Operated By: NASA, Wikipedia: Project Mercury, spacecraft section
- Mission Of: Mercury Program, Wikipedia: Project Mercury, lead section
Part Of: Mercury Program, Article text
Project Mercury was the first human spaceflight program of the United States, running from 1958 through 1963.
View the Source3. Orbit Codex: Mercury spacecraft record
Orbit CodexSpacecraft Specifications: First FlightQuote, Spacecraft Specifications: First Flight
First Flight 1959-09-09
Alan Shepard (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Alan Shepard, Wikipedia: Alan Shepard, lead sectionView the Source Gus Grissom (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Gus Grissom, Wikipedia: Gus Grissom, lead sectionView the Source John Glenn (Wikipedia)
Associated With: John Glenn, Wikipedia: John Glenn, lead sectionView the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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