Started in 1958 and completed in 1963, Project Mercury was the [[United States]]' first [[human]]-in-[[space]] program. The objectives of the program, which made six manned flights from 1961 to 1963, were to orbit a manned spacecraft around [[Earth]], to investigate human ability to function in space, and to recover both man and spacecraft safely. Project Mercury was a success and led to Project Gemini. | Started in 1958 and completed in 1963, Project Mercury was the [[United States]]' first [[human]]-in-[[space]] program. The objectives of the program, which made six manned flights from 1961 to 1963, were to orbit a manned spacecraft around [[Earth]], to investigate human ability to function in space, and to recover both man and spacecraft safely. Project Mercury was a success and led to Project Gemini. |