# Mercury-Atlas 6

> first American orbital spaceflight

**Wikidata**: [Q498533](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q498533)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury-Atlas_6)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mercury-atlas-6

## Summary
Mercury-Atlas 6 (MA-6), also known as Friendship 7, was the first American crewed orbital spaceflight, launched on February 20, 1962. It carried astronaut John Glenn into low Earth orbit, completing three revolutions around the planet. This mission marked a pivotal milestone in the U.S. Space Race efforts.

## Key Facts
- First American human spaceflight to achieve Earth orbit
- Launched on February 20, 1962, from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 14
- Crew: John Glenn (pilot)
- Spacecraft mass at takeoff: 1,224.7 kg
- Orbital parameters: Apoapsis 248 km, Periapsis 149 km, Inclination 32.5°
- Completed 3 orbits over 17,723 seconds (~4 hours 55 minutes)
- Splashdown occurred in the Atlantic Ocean; recovered by USS Noa
- Part of NASA's Project Mercury program
- COSPAR ID: 1962-003A

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of the Mercury-Atlas 6 mission?
A: The mission aimed to place the first American astronaut into Earth orbit, demonstrating the capability for sustained human spaceflight and advancing U.S. goals during the Space Race with the Soviet Union.

### Q: Who piloted the Mercury-Atlas 6 flight?
A: Astronaut John Glenn was the sole crew member aboard Friendship 7, becoming the first American to orbit Earth.

### Q: How long did the Mercury-Atlas 6 mission last?
A: The total mission duration was approximately 4 hours and 55 minutes, or 17,723 seconds, during which the spacecraft completed three full orbits around Earth.

## Why It Matters
Mercury-Atlas 6 represented a turning point in the early Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union. Prior to this mission, only the USSR had successfully placed humans into Earth orbit—most notably Yuri Gagarin in April 1961. By achieving orbital flight with John Glenn aboard Friendship 7, the United States demonstrated its growing technological capabilities and restored national confidence after earlier setbacks in the race to space. The success validated key components of NASA’s human spaceflight program and laid the groundwork for future missions leading up to Apollo and the Moon landing. Politically and culturally, the mission elevated Glenn to hero status and galvanized public support for continued investment in space exploration.

## Notable For
- First American orbital crewed spaceflight
- Only Project Mercury mission to complete multiple Earth orbits
- Used the powerful SM-65D Atlas launch vehicle for orbital insertion
- Featured the iconic “Friendship 7” call sign and mission patch
- Marked the beginning of live television coverage of American astronauts in orbit

## Body
### Mission Overview
Mercury-Atlas 6 (MA-6) was a historic human spaceflight conducted under NASA's Project Mercury. Officially designated as such, it became widely known by its call sign *Friendship 7*. The mission launched on February 20, 1962, carrying astronaut John Glenn aboard a modified Mercury capsule atop an SM-65D Atlas rocket.

### Objectives
The primary objective was to demonstrate that an American could survive and function effectively during orbital spaceflight. Secondary objectives included evaluating life support systems, communication protocols, reentry procedures, and post-flight recovery operations.

### Spacecraft Details
- **Name**: Friendship 7  
- **Manufacturer**: McDonnell Aircraft Corporation  
- **Launch Mass**: 1,224.7 kilograms  
- **Orbits Completed**: 3  
- **Orbital Period**: ~88.47 minutes  
- **Inclination**: 32.5 degrees  

### Flight Profile
- **Launch Site**: Cape Canaveral LC-14  
- **Landing Site**: Atlantic Ocean (splashdown)  
- **Recovery Vessel**: USS Noa  
- **Duration**: 17,723 seconds (~4h 55m)  
- **Apogee**: 248 kilometers above Earth  
- **Perigee**: 149 kilometers above Earth  

### Historical Significance
This mission made John Glenn the first American to orbit Earth, following Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin's pioneering flight nearly one year prior. It significantly boosted morale within the U.S., proving that American engineering and astronaut training were competitive on the global stage.

### Legacy
Mercury-Atlas 6 established foundational experience for later Gemini and Apollo programs. Its success influenced policy decisions regarding funding and direction of NASA through the remainder of the 1960s, ultimately contributing to the successful Moon landings.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Mercury-Atlas 6",
  "description": "First American orbital spaceflight.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q182286",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury-Atlas_6"
  ],
  "additionalType": "Crewed spacecraft"
}

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. [Source](http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1962-003A)
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013