Mercury CapsuleMercury-Atlas 6
Spacecraft Archive
Friendship 7
Mercury
Friendship 7 carried John Glenn on three orbits of Earth, making him the first American to orbit the planet.
OrbitingTruths Archive
Mercury • Mercury-Atlas 6
Overview
Built for the mission
Friendship 7 carried John Glenn on three orbits of Earth, making him the first American to orbit the planet.
Spacecraft Details
Type
Mercury Capsule
Mission
Mercury-Atlas 6
Pilot
John Glenn
Flight Profile
3 orbits
Launch Date
February 20, 1962
Program
Mercury
Status
On display, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Related Program
Project Mercury
America's first human spaceflight program, proving astronauts could survive and work in space.
Explore Program