Project Mercury was the first American human spaceflight programme, run by NASA, with the aim of putting a person in orbit around the Earth and returning them safely. It was created in response to the Soviet Union's early success in space, and its seven original astronauts, the Mercury Seven, became national figures. Alan Shepard became the first American in space in 1961 on a short suborbital flight, and in 1962 John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth. The programme flew six crewed flights, ending with Gordon Cooper's day-and-a-half mission in 1963. It proved that people could work in space and prepared the ground for the Gemini and Apollo programmes.
Before and after
- 1958Founding of European Investment Bank
- from 1958 to 1960French New Wave
- 1958Publication of Onward Singapore
- 1958Publication of Lupang Hinirang
- from 1958 to 1963Project Mercury
- 1958Great Leap Forward
- 1958Founding of Kitt Peak National Observatory
- 1958Integrated circuit
- 1958Construction of London Gatwick Airport
More in Science & technology
- 1945Discovery of promethium
- 1950Discovery of californium
- 18 February 1970Discovery of dubnium
- July 1974Discovery of seaborgium
- 1976Discovery of bohrium
- 29 August 1982Discovery of meitnerium
The era
This moment belongs to the Contemporary world (1945 CE to today), the world since 1945. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.