Mercury Program

Original Mercury astronauts in space suits

Photo Courtesy of NASA

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First program to put a U.S. astronaut in space.

Space capsule could only hold 1 person.

6 flights from 1959 to 1963.

Capsule weighed 3,000 pounds, and was 9ft 7in. high.

Cost of program was $400 million.

First orbital flight by John Glenn in February 20,1962 (Mercury-Atlas 6).

 

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