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THREE SPACE PROGRAMS

THREE SPACE PROGRAMS. ONE PROGRAM: SIX FLIGHTS. PROJECT MERCURY. Named after the Roman messenger god Ran just under five years 1958-1963 Six manned missions from 1961-1963 Goals Orbit a manned spacecraft around the Earth Investigate man’s ability to function in space

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THREE SPACE PROGRAMS

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  1. THREE SPACE PROGRAMS

  2. ONE PROGRAM: SIX FLIGHTS

  3. PROJECT MERCURY • Named after the Roman messenger god • Ran just under five years • 1958-1963 • Six manned missions from 1961-1963 • Goals • Orbit a manned spacecraft around the Earth • Investigate man’s ability to function in space • Recover man and spacecraft safely

  4. THE ORIGINAL SEVEN • Introduced on 9 April 1959 • In civilian clothes • Astronauts—sailors among the stars • NAMES • Virgil (Gus) Grisson - Alan Shepard • Scott Carpenter - Walter Schirra • Donald (Deek) Slayton - John Glenn • Gordon Cooper (Gordo)

  5. FIRST OF THE FIRSTS • First American in space—5 May 1961 • Alan Shepard • Freedom 7 • Lasted 15 minutes • Suborbital—trajectory through space but not making a complete orbit • Scientists worried about disorientation or overstressing the body • Shepard reported: “It was painless—just a pleasant ride.”

  6. FIRST TO ORBIT EARTH • After Gus Grissom made the second suborbital flight which was marred by the loss of the capsule, Liberty Bell 7 • 21 July 1961 • Recovered 20 July 1999 • JOHN GLENN—7 months after the minor problem • 20 Feb 1962 • Friendship 7 • Orbited the Earth three times in 5 hours

  7. MISSIONS 4-6 • 4: Scott Carpenter in Aurora 7 proved man could carry out scientific experiments • 5: Walter Schirra—Sigma 7 managed fuel and electricity for a longer flight—textbook flight • 6: Gordon Cooper in Faith 7 took the longest Mercury flight: 22.5 orbits in 34 hours—first man to sleep in space • Special Mention: Deek Slayton was the only Mercury astronaut to not go into space under than program—heart problem—would go up later in Apollo

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