# Mercury-Atlas 8

> crewed spacecraft

**Wikidata**: [Q498689](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q498689)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury-Atlas_8)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mercury-atlas-8

## Summary
Mercury-Atlas 8 was a crewed spacecraft launched by NASA on October 3, 1962, as part of Project Mercury. It carried astronaut Wally Schirra on a six-orbit mission around Earth, marking the fifth crewed flight of the U.S. space program.

## Key Facts
- Launched on October 3, 1962, from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 14.
- Crewed by astronaut Walter "Wally" Schirra, Jr.
- Mass at takeoff: 1,964 kg; dry weight: 1,242 kg.
- Completed 6 orbits around Earth in 9 hours, 13 minutes, and 15 seconds.
- Launch vehicle: SM-65D Atlas missile.
- Splashdown occurred in the Pacific Ocean on October 3, 1962.
- Call sign: "Sigma 7."
- Part of NASA's Project Mercury, the first U.S. human spaceflight program.

## FAQs
### Q: Who piloted Mercury-Atlas 8?
A: Astronaut Walter "Wally" Schirra, Jr. piloted the spacecraft.

### Q: How long did the Mercury-Atlas 8 mission last?
A: The mission lasted 9 hours, 13 minutes, and 15 seconds, completing 6 orbits around Earth.

### Q: What was the purpose of Mercury-Atlas 8?
A: It was part of Project Mercury, aimed at testing human spaceflight capabilities and gathering data for future missions.

### Q: Where did Mercury-Atlas 8 land?
A: The spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean and was recovered by the USS Kearsarge.

### Q: What was the call sign of Mercury-Atlas 8?
A: The call sign was "Sigma 7."

## Why It Matters
Mercury-Atlas 8 was a critical milestone in the early U.S. space program, demonstrating the feasibility of extended human spaceflight. As the fifth crewed mission of Project Mercury, it helped validate spacecraft systems, life support, and orbital mechanics, paving the way for longer-duration missions like Gemini and Apollo. Schirra's successful flight also reinforced confidence in NASA's ability to safely launch and recover astronauts, contributing to the space race's momentum during the Cold War.

## Notable For
- First U.S. crewed spaceflight to last over 9 hours.
- Successfully completed 6 orbits, a record at the time for U.S. missions.
- Demonstrated precise orbital maneuvers and splashdown recovery.
- Used the SM-65D Atlas, the first operational version of the Atlas missile.
- One of the few Mercury missions without major technical issues.

## Body
### Mission Overview
Mercury-Atlas 8 (MA-8) was launched on October 3, 1962, from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The spacecraft, named "Sigma 7," was piloted by astronaut Wally Schirra. The mission aimed to test the spacecraft's systems, evaluate the effects of prolonged weightlessness on the astronaut, and refine re-entry procedures.

### Spacecraft Specifications
- **Mass**: 1,964 kg at takeoff, 1,242 kg dry weight.
- **Orbit**: Apoapsis of 285 km, periapsis of 156 km, inclination of 32.5 degrees.
- **Orbital Period**: 88.91 minutes per orbit.
- **Duration**: 9 hours, 13 minutes, 15 seconds.

### Launch and Recovery
- **Launch Vehicle**: SM-65D Atlas missile.
- **Launch Site**: Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 14.
- **Recovery**: Splashdown in the Pacific Ocean; recovered by USS Kearsarge.

### Crew and Call Sign
- **Astronaut**: Walter "Wally" Schirra, Jr.
- **Call Sign**: "Sigma 7."

### Significance in Project Mercury
MA-8 was the fifth crewed mission of Project Mercury, following Mercury-Atlas 7 and preceding Mercury-Atlas 9. It contributed valuable data on human endurance in space and spacecraft performance, helping NASA prepare for more ambitious missions.

## Schema Markup
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  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Mercury-Atlas 8",
  "description": "A crewed spacecraft launched by NASA on October 3, 1962, as part of Project Mercury.",
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## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. [Source](http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1962-052A)
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. BabelNet