# Mercury-Redstone 3

> first United States human spaceflight, on May 5, 1961

**Wikidata**: [Q623903](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q623903)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury-Redstone_3)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mercury-redstone-3

## Summary
Mercury-Redstone 3, also known as Freedom 7, was the first United States human spaceflight, carrying astronaut Alan Shepard on a sub-orbital mission on May 5, 1961.

## Key Facts
- The mission launched from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 5 on May 5, 1961, and was the first human spaceflight by the United States.
- The spacecraft had a takeoff mass of 1830 kilograms and a landing mass of 1051 kilograms.
- It was operated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and manufactured by McDonnell Aircraft Corporation.
- The mission lasted 922 seconds and reached an apoapsis of 187.42 kilometers above Earth.
- The spacecraft splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean and was recovered by the USS Lake Champlain.
- It was part of Project Mercury and followed the Mercury-Redstone Booster Development program.

## FAQs
### Q: Who was the first American in space?
A: Alan Shepard was the first American astronaut to travel into space aboard Mercury-Redstone 3 on May 5, 1961.

### Q: When did the Mercury-Redstone 3 mission occur?
A: The mission launched on May 5, 1961, and concluded with splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean later that same day.

### Q: What was the name of the spacecraft?
A: The spacecraft was named Freedom 7 and had the official designation Mercury-Redstone 3.

### Q: Where did the mission land?
A: The spacecraft splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean at coordinates approximately 27.23°N, -75.88°W.

## Why It Matters
Mercury-Redstone 3 holds profound significance as the first human spaceflight by the United States, marking a pivotal moment in the Space Race and human space exploration history. This sub-orbital mission demonstrated that humans could survive and function in the harsh conditions of space, paving the way for subsequent orbital missions and ultimately the Apollo program that would land humans on the Moon. The success of this mission boosted American morale during the Cold War and established the United States as a major player in space exploration.

## Notable For
- First United States human spaceflight
- Carried Alan Shepard, the first American in space
- Achieved a sub-orbital trajectory reaching 187.42 km altitude
- Part of Project Mercury, the United States' first human spaceflight program
- Successfully demonstrated human spaceflight capabilities

## Body
### Mission Overview
Mercury-Redstone 3 was the first crewed spaceflight by the United States, conducted as part of Project Mercury. The mission launched on May 5, 1961, from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 5 using a Mercury-Redstone Launch Vehicle. The spacecraft, designated Freedom 7, carried astronaut Alan Shepard on a sub-orbital flight that lasted approximately 15 minutes.

### Technical Specifications
The spacecraft had a takeoff mass of 1830 kilograms and a landing mass of 1051 kilograms. It reached an apoapsis (maximum altitude) of 187.42 kilometers above Earth and traveled a total distance of approximately 480 kilometers. The mission duration was 922 seconds from launch to splashdown.

### Launch and Flight
The launch occurred at 9:34 a.m. EDT from Launch Complex 5. The rocket provided Shepard with a maximum acceleration of 6.3 g's during the ascent. The spacecraft reached its peak altitude at approximately 4 minutes and 54 seconds after launch. The capsule then began its descent, with the main parachute deploying at approximately 10 minutes and 7 seconds after launch.

### Recovery Operations
The spacecraft splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 307 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral at 10:42 a.m. EDT. The USS Lake Champlain, serving as the recovery ship, located the capsule and recovered it at 11:11 a.m. EDT. The mission was considered a complete success, with all primary objectives achieved.

### Significance
This mission was crucial for several reasons:
- It demonstrated that humans could survive the stresses of spaceflight
- It established the United States' capability to launch humans into space
- It provided valuable data on human physiological responses to spaceflight
- It served as a critical test for the Mercury program before orbital missions

The success of Mercury-Redstone 3 was followed by the Mercury-Redstone 4 mission, which carried Gus Grissom, making it the second American in space.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mercury/missions/freedom7.html)
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013