Project Mercury

 

Project Mercury was a series of space flights from 1958 to 1963 whose objects were to:

· Orbit a manned space-craft around the earth.

· Investigate man's ability to function in space.

· And to recover both man and space craft safely.

The United States' first manned space flight project, Project Mercury, was successfully executed in a 4 year period. In this period, six manned space flights were accomplished as part of a 25-flight Mercury Program. These manned space flights were accomplished with complete pilot safety. It was proven that man can function properly with normal body functions for periods up to 34 hours in space during these missions. Other advantages of the Mercury experience developed to insure well-trained flight and ground crews and correctly prepared space vehicles. The basic guidelines that were established for the Mercury Missions were:

· Existing technology and off-the-shelf equipment should be used wherever practical.

·The simplest and most reliable approach to system design would be followed.

· An existing launch vehicle would be employed to place the spacecraft into orbit.

And more detailed requirements for the spacecraft were established as follows:

· The spacecraft must be fitted with a reliable launch-escape system to separate the spacecraft and its crew from the launch vehicle in case of impending failure.

· The pilot must be given the capability of manually controlling spacecraft attitude.

· The spacecraft must carry a retrorocket system capable of reliably providing the necessary impulse to bring the spacecraft out of orbit.

· A zero-lift body utilizing drag braking would be used for reentry.

· The spacecraft design must satisfy the requirements for a water landing.

There was a purpose to the Mercury Missions, and as described by John F. Kennedy,

"We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained, and new rights to be won, and they must be won and used for the progress of all people. For space science, like nuclear science and all technology, has no conscience of its own. Whether it will become a force for good or ill depends on man, and only if the United States occupies a position of preeminence can we help decide whether this new ocean will be a sea of peace or a new, terrifying theater of war." John F. Kennedy Rice University Stadium Houston, Texas September 12, 1962