[RSS] Mercury Atlas

The Mercury-Atlas rocket was a modified Atlas missile that served as the launch vehicle for NASA's Project Mercury, successfully launching the first Americans into orbit.

Mission Name Spacecraft Launch Date Astronaut Significance & Details
Mercury-Atlas 6 Friendship 7 February 20, 1962 John Glenn First American to orbit Earth; completed 3 orbits in 4 hours 55 minutes.

Mercury-Atlas 7 Aurora 7 Scott Carpenter Second American orbital flight; focused on scientific observations.

Mercury-Atlas 8 Sigma 7 Wally Schirra Engineering test flight; demonstrated precise spacecraft control.

Mercury-Atlas 9 Faith 7 Gordon Cooper Final Mercury mission; longest U.S. solo spaceflight (over 34 hours).

🚀 More About the Rocket and Its Legacy

· From Missile to Spacecraft Launch Vehicle: The Mercury-Atlas rocket was adapted from the Atlas D missile. Its robust design and sufficient power made it the only rocket in the U.S. arsenal at the time capable of launching a crewed spacecraft into orbit.
· Technical Specifications: The Mercury spacecraft itself, which housed the astronaut, had a launch mass of approximately 2,981 pounds (1,352 kg). The Atlas rocket provided the necessary thrust to achieve a low Earth orbit with an apogee (highest point) of around 265 kilometers.
· Historical Context: The Mercury-Atlas missions were a direct response to the early Soviet lead in the Space Race. Following the success of Project Mercury, the Atlas rocket family continued to evolve, serving for decades as a reliable launch vehicle for everything from planetary probes like the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to commercial and military satellites.