M7+-+1

• The first mission called Project Mercury occurred on October 7, 1958 • This program lasted five years • The original astronauts that would be apart of this were chosen on April 9, 1959 • There were three main goals that were set: • To orbit the earth with man. • Understand how the body worked in space. • Get man and spacecraft back safely. • The human body can still function in space even though they are weightless. •  How to prepare spacecrafts for flight. • Completed 6 manned flights
 * Category 1 – Mercury & Gemini **
 * Mercury PROGRAM

|| NASA Past || • December 7, 1961 NASA wanted to extend the development of a two-man space craft • The program was officially started on January 3, 1962. • This was less then a year after Alan Shepard became the first American in space. • Three main reasons: • To further investigate how the human body reacted to longer flights. • Perfect landing methods of the spacecraft. • Develop methods for precise maneuvering of the spacecrafts so that they could meet in space. • All of the objectives of the Gemini mission were met. • Once all of the objectives were met they were able to achieve many more. • This mission was overall very sucessful and helpful • The only major problem was the perfecting of the land landing. • That was canceled from the Gemini mission in 1964 • They named the mission after the 3rd constellation of the zodiac • It was controlled from Houston, Texas by NASA • The mission was completed with the Gemini XII flight. || NASA Past || RIGHT-CLICK on these links to "Open in a new window"
 * Gemini PROGRAM

NASA PAST Missions http://www.nasa.gov/missions/past/index.html