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PHOTOS: To view the full caption and get
a high-resolution version, click on the thumbnail.
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![Mercury Redstone 3](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/static/history/friendship7/pages/../images/gallery-photo1.jpg)
Mercury-Redstone 3, the first piloted Mercury flight, rocket in
flight configuration test to evaluate astronaut escape feasibility.
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![Boilerplate Mercury](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/static/history/friendship7/pages/../images/gallery-photo2.jpg)
Boilerplate Mercury spacecraft being manufactured in-house by
NASA Langley technicians.
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![Basic Diagrams of Mercury](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/static/history/friendship7/pages/../images/gallery-photo3.jpg)
Basic diagrams of the Mercury spacecraft and rocket configuration.
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![The Mercury Atlas Rocket for the Frienship 7](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/static/history/friendship7/pages/../images/gallery-photo4.jpg)
The Mercury-Atlas rocket for the Friendship 7 mission lifts off,
carrying John H. Glenn, Jr., into orbit.
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Astronaut John H. Glenn, Jr., dons his silver Mercury pressure
suit in preparation for launch.
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![Glenn in his Silver Mercury](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/static/history/friendship7/pages/../images/gallery-photo6.jpg)
Glenn in his silver Mercury spacesuit during preflight training
exercises at Cape Canaveral.
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![Glenn Suited up](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/static/history/friendship7/pages/../images/gallery-photo7.jpg)
Glenn suited up.
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![Glenn and his Wife Ann](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/static/history/friendship7/pages/../images/gallery-photo8.jpg)
Glenn and his wife, Annie, join Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson
for a parade after his historic flight.
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![Glenn Meets President John F. Kennedy](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/static/history/friendship7/pages/../images/gallery-photo9.jpg)
Glenn meets President John F. Kennedy after his flight.
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![Glenn Enters the Friendship 7](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/static/history/friendship7/pages/../images/gallery-photo10.jpg)
Glenn enters the Friendship 7 spacecraft before launch on February
20, 1962.
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![Glenn Receives a Medal](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/static/history/friendship7/pages/../images/gallery-photo11.jpg)
Glenn receives a medal from President Kennedy.
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![Launch of Freedon 7](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/static/history/friendship7/pages/../images/gallery-photo12.jpg)
Launch of Freedom 7, the first American human spaceflight mission.
Astronaut Alan Shepard flew on a suborbital lob on May 5, 1961.
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![Pre-Launch Test of the Later Mercury Atlas 9](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/static/history/friendship7/pages/../images/gallery-photo13.jpg)
Prelaunch test of the later Mercury-Atlas 9 (MA9) on Launch Pad
14 at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
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![The Original Mercury 7 Astronauts](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/static/history/friendship7/pages/../images/gallery-photo14.jpg)
The original Mercury 7 astronauts, whose selection was announced
on April 9, 1959.
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![The Freedom 7 Spacecraft](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/static/history/friendship7/pages/../images/gallery-photo15.jpg)
The Freedom 7 spacecraft on the launch pad for the Mercury-Redstone
3 first American human spaceflight mission.
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![A Mercury Capsule Complete](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/static/history/friendship7/pages/../images/gallery-photo16.jpg)
A Mercury capsule complete in a hangar at what is now NASAs
Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.
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