Project Mercury

Overview

Project Mercury was the first United States human spaceflight programme, putting the first American astronauts into orbit.

Knowledge connections

• Operated byNASA
• Program includesFreedom 7 (Mercury-Redstone 3)
• Program includesFriendship 7 (Mercury-Atlas 6)
• Associated withShepard Becomes the First American in Space
• Associated withGlenn Becomes the First American to Orbit the Earth

Sources

The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.

• NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration

  Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.

  Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.