Mercury-Atlas 6
Mercury-Atlas 6: Place an American astronaut into Earth orbit for the first time
Mercury-Atlas 6, also known as Friendship 7, was the first American orbital spaceflight. John Glenn launched from Cape Canaveral on February 20, 1962, completed three orbits of Earth, manually assisted spacecraft control, and splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean after 4 hours, 55 minutes, and 23 seconds.
Mission dossier
Flight profile, locations, hardware, and outcome in the same reference format used throughout the archive.
Flight profile
- Launch
- February 20, 1962
- Landing
- February 20, 1962
- Mission duration
- 4 hours, 55 minutes, 23 seconds
- Orbits
- 3
- Inclination
- 32.5 degrees
Places and recovery
Mission record
- Vehicle
- Friendship 7
- Mission type
- Orbital test flight
Assignment Manifest
The flight crew and the backup team assigned to train for this mission.
Prime crew
1 assignment
Mission Purpose
2 sources- Place an American astronaut into Earth orbit for the first time.
- Verify Mercury spacecraft systems during orbital flight, , and recovery.
- Evaluate astronaut performance during three Earth orbits.
- Recover astronaut and spacecraft safely after Atlantic .
Planned Flight Plan
2 sources- February 20, 1962
Mercury-Atlas 6 begins
Friendship 7 was assigned to Place an American astronaut into Earth orbit for the first time.
- Primary phase
Verify Mercury spacecraft systems during orbital flight, , and recovery
Spacecraft: Friendship 7 Mercury ; : Atlas LV-3B; Primary work: Crewed orbital , spacecraft control, observation, reentry, and recovery
- Mission objective
Evaluate astronaut performance during three Earth orbits
Mercury-Atlas 6 operated within Project Mercury to pursue the program objective.
- February 20, 1962
Mercury-Atlas 6 outcome
Mercury-Atlas 6 concluded with the recorded status Completed: Mercury-Atlas 6: Place an American astronaut into Earth orbit for the first time.
Mission Timeline
2 sources- February 20, 1962
Mercury-Atlas 6 begins
Friendship 7 began Mercury-Atlas 6 to Place an American astronaut into Earth orbit for the first time.
- Operations
Verify Mercury spacecraft systems during orbital flight, , and recovery
Spacecraft: Friendship 7 Mercury ; : Atlas LV-3B; Primary work: Crewed orbital , spacecraft control, observation, reentry, and recovery
Open operation record - Defining result
Mercury-Atlas 6: Place an American astronaut into Earth orbit for the first time
Mercury-Atlas 6, also known as Friendship 7, was the first American orbital spaceflight.
- February 20, 1962
Mercury-Atlas 6: Completed
Recover astronaut and spacecraft safely after Atlantic .
Open operation record