Mercury-Atlas

Mercury

A modified Atlas D missile with enough power to launch a Mercury capsule into orbit, used for all four American crewed orbital Mercury flights.

OrbitingTruths Archive

Mercury • Retired

Overview

Built for the mission

A modified Atlas D missile with enough power to launch a Mercury capsule into orbit, used for all four American crewed orbital Mercury flights.

Type

Launch Vehicle

Manufacturer

Convair

Height

95 ft (29 m)

Stages

1.5 (staged combustion)

First Crewed Flight

February 20, 1962

Last Crewed Flight

May 15, 1963

Program

Mercury

Status

Retired

Related Program

America's first human spaceflight program, proving astronauts could survive and work in space.