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 1 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)
Gus Grissom flew a Mercury spacecraft (Liberty Bell 7) on Mercury-Redstone 4 in 1961.
Source Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
John Glenn flew a Mercury spacecraft (Friendship 7) in 1962, the first American to orbit the Earth.
Source Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Mission Of
The Mercury spacecraft was the crewed vehicle flown throughout NASA's Mercury Program.
Source Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Operated By
The Mercury spacecraft was NASA's single-seat crewed capsule flown during Project Mercury, 1961-1963.
Source Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Sources
1. 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
View the SourceWikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia Foundation- Operated By: NASA, Wikipedia: Project Mercury, spacecraft section
- Mission Of: Mercury Program, Wikipedia: Project Mercury, lead section
- Associated With: Alan Shepard, Wikipedia: Alan Shepard, lead section
- Associated With: Gus Grissom, Wikipedia: Gus Grissom, lead section
- Associated With: John Glenn, Wikipedia: John Glenn, lead section
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