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Project Mercury

Initiated in 1958, completed in 1963, Project Mercury was the United States' first man-in-space program. The objectives of the program, which made six manned flights from 1961 to 1963, were specific: - To orbit a manned spacecraft around Earth - To investigate man's ability to function in space - To recover both man and spacecraft safely

Press release information, September 13, 1968: "FIRST ASTRONAUT TEAM: Project Mercury Astronauts, whose selection was announced on April 9, 1959,...
The Mercury Seven pose for a photo
The original seven Mercury astronauts during training at NASA Langley Research Center Project Mercury. The original seven astronauts trained at...
The original seven astronauts standing in front of a jet airplane all wearing flight suits. The airplane has the Airforce insignia on the side with the cockpit open.
The Mercury 7 astronauts examine their “couches.” Each astronaut's couch was molded to fit his body to help withstand the...
The Mercury 7 astronauts and Bob Gilruth examine an astronaut couch, which was molded to fit each of their bodies to protect them from the G-loads of launch.
The launch of the Little Joe booster for the LJ1B mission on the launch pad from the wallops Flight Facility,...
Launch of the Little Joe booster
A three-year-old chimpanzee named Ham sits in the biopack couch for the Mercury-Redstone-2 (MR-2) suborbital test flight.
CHIMPANZEE "HAM" sits IN FLIGHT COUCH FOR MR-2 (MERCURY-REDSTONE2) surrounded by his trainers.
Technicians adjust the rocket motor during the attachment of the escape tower to the Mercury capsule prior to assembly with...
Two men reach up to work on a rocket motor for Project Mercury
Fifty-four years ago on May 5, 1961 only 23 days after Yuri Gagarin of the then-Soviet Union became the first...
The Trajectory of Alan Shepard's flight
In Hangar S at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on May 5, 1961, NASA astronaut Alan B. Shepard Jr. participates...
Alan Shepard participates in a test of his pressure suit
Astronauts Alan Shepard and John Glenn at breakfast before Shepard’s Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3) spaceflight.
Alan Shepard and John Glenn, wearing white robes, are seated at a table with trays with their breakfasts
Astronaut Alan B. Shepard, one of the original seven astronauts for Mercury Project selected by NASA on April 27, 1959....
Alan B Shepard wears his silver space suit
Astronaut Alan B. Shepard, Jr. during suiting for the first manned suborbital flight, MR-3 mission. The Freedom 7 spacecraft, carrying...
Astronaut Alan Shepard, seated, while technician checks his silver pressure suit
This week in 1961, astronaut Alan Shepard lifted off in the Freedom 7 spacecraft from Cape Canaveral, Florida, embarking on...
The launch of the Mercury-Redstone (MR-3), Freedom 7. MR-3 placed the first American astronaut, Alan Shepard, in suborbit on May
NASA Project Mercury astronaut. -- Grissom was later known as Gus .
Portrait of Gus Grissom taken in 1959
Astronaut Gus Grissom relaxes before his flight in the crew quarters at Hangar S. Grissom became the second American in...
Astronaut Gus Grissom relaxes in the crew quarters at Hangar S.
Project Mercury astronaut Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, assisted by McDonnell technicians, leaves the Mercury spacecraft, dubbed Liberty Bell 7, following...
Project Mercury astronaut Gus Grissom is assisted by McDonnell technicians as he leaves the Liberty Bell 7 Mercury spacecraft.
Project Mercury Astronaut Virgil I. Grissom, primary pilot for the Mercury-Redstone 4 (Liberty Bell 7) flight, gets an assist from...
Project Mercury Astronaut Virgil I. Grissom is assisted by suit specialist Joe W. Schmidt as he prepares for his Mercury-Redstone 4 space flight
Donning a spacesuit for the Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4) mission, astronaut Virgil I. (Gus) Grissom chats with spaceflight equipment specialist Joe...
Gus Grissom waits in his space suit in the personal equipment room of Hangar S while spaceflight equipment specialist Joe W. Schmidt adjusts his glove.
A U.S. Marine helicopter attempts to retrieve the sinking capsule, Liberty Bell 7, of the MR-4 mission. The attempt failed...
A helicopter hovers over the ocean in attempt to retrieve the Liberty Bell 7 capsule
Portrait of John H. Glenn, Jr., Project Mercury astronaut
John Glenn, Mercury Astronaut
Astronaut John Glenn outside the Mercury Control Center at Cape Canaveral
Astronaut John H. Glenn sits in a convertible car in front of the east side of the Mercury Mission Control building.
Prime astronaut John Glenn and backup pilot Scott Carpenter check over notes after a simulated flight prior to the Mercury-Atlas...
John Glenn, wearing his space suit, goes over notes on a piece of paper with backup pilot Scott Carpenter.
Project Mercury Astronaut John H. Glenn Jr., prime pilot for the MA-6 mission, takes a work-out in the procedures trainer...
John Glenn, suited in his silver space suit, works in the procedures trainer for the Mercury-Atlas 6 mission.
Astronaut John Glenn, suited with hose to suit ventilation unit attached, is seen preparing to board his Mercury spacecraft inside...
John Glenn is wearing his space suit preparing to board the Mercury spacecraft inside the Hangar S altitude chamber.
Astronaut John H. Glenn Jr., finishes suiting up, and prepares for the launch of his Mercury-Atlas 6 (MA-6) spacecraft. The...
Closeup black and white photo of astronaut John Glenn in spacesuit
Astronaut John H. Glenn Jr. (left), Dr. William Douglas, astronauts flight surgeon, and equipment specialist Joe Schmitt leave crew quarters...
Astronaut John H. Glenn Jr. (left), Dr. William Douglas, astronauts flight surgeon, and equipment specialist Joe Schmitt walk down a hall as they leave crew quarters prior to Mercury-Atlas 6 (MA-6) mission.
In this image from January 23, 1962, Glenn gives ready sign during Mercury-Atlas 6 pre- launch training activities.
John Glenn
62-MA6-55 (1962) --- Astronaut John H. Glenn Jr., pilot of the Mercury Atlas 6 (MA-6) spaceflight, poses for a photo...
John Glenn poses in his space suit with the Friendship 7 spacecraft
Behind the Flight Control area in Mercury Mission Control was a glass-enclosed viewing section that consisted of two levels, with...
Behind the Flight Control area in Mercury Mission Control was a glass-enclosed viewing section that consisted of two levels, with rows of chairs and standing room at the back.
Astronaut John Glenn enters the Mercury spacecraft, Friendship 7, prior to the launch of Mercury-Atlas 6 (MA-6) on Feb. 20,...
Astronaut John Glenn enters the Mercury spacecraft, Friendship 7, prior to the launch of Mercury-Atlas 6 (MA-6) on Feb. 20, 1962.
Launch of the Mercury-Atlas 6 mission on Feb. 20, 1962.
A vintage photo of a rocket lifting off from the launch pad. The rocket is white with a black, conical metal capsule at the top and a red "escape tower," or tiny red rocket attached to the end of the capsule. Bright white fire shoots out of the rocket's end, and white smoke billows around the bright red frame of the launch tower beside the rocket. The sky is bright blue.
On Feb. 20, 1962, John H. Glenn, Jr., became the first American to orbit Earth.
This photograph of John Glenn during his Mercury-Atlas 6 spaceflight was taken by a camera onboard the spacecraft.
S62-06040 (20 Feb. 1962) --- Orbital sunset photographed by astronaut John H. Glenn Jr. aboard the "Friendship 7" during his...
Airglow over the Earth is seen from the dark side of the planet during John Glenn's flight in Earth orbit.
Astronaut John H. Glenn Jr., pilot of the Mercury-Atlas 6 spaceflight, relaxes aboard the carrier U.S.S. Randolph following his Earth-orbital...
Closeup of John Glenn in flight suit
Astronaut John Glenn Jr. is honored by President John F. Kennedy after Glenn's historical first manned orbital flight, Mercury-Atlas 6....
President John F. Kennedy stands at a podium in front of the Manned Spacecraft Center to honor astronaut John Glenn, Jr.
Following ceremonies at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Hangar S on Feb. 23, 1962, astronaut John Glenn, left, describes his...
Astronaut John Glenn stands next to the Mercury Friendship 7 spacecraft as he talks to his wife, Annie and President John F. Kennedy. A large group of people surround them.
President John F. Kennedy pins a NASA Distinguished Service Medal on astronaut John Glenn Jr. following his historic three-orbit flight,...
President John F. Kennedy pins a NASA Distinguished Service Medal on astronaut John Glenn Jr. at the Manned Spacecraft Center.
The Mercury Capsule for the Mercury Atlas 7 mission of NASA astronaut Scott Carpenter undergoes testing in the White Room...
Technicians work on the Mercury capsuler for the Mercury-Atlas 7 mission.
In preparation for the Mercury Atlas 8 flight of NASA Astronaut Walter Schirra, the spacecraft is moved into the altitude...
A Mercury spacecraft is moved into the altitude chamber inside Hangar S with the help of McDonnell technicians.
In 1961, Project Mercury Astronaut Scott Carpenter underwent a simulated mission in the procedures trainer at Langley Research Center, which...
Astronaut Scott Carpenter undergoes a simulated mission in the procedures trainer at Langley Research Center.
S62-02852 (1962) --- Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter, prime pilot for the Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) mission, goes through a water egress...