Media Group: Gemini

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Project Mercury - Capsule #2
Title Project Mercury - Capsule #2
Full Description Project Mercury - Capsule #2. Capsule complete in Lewis Hangar near Cleveland, Ohio. Lewis is now known as the Glenn Research Center.
Date 08/03/1959
NASA Center Glenn Research Center
Mercury-Atlas Test Launch
Title Mercury-Atlas Test Launch
Full Description A NASA Project Mercury spacecraft was test launched at 11:15 AM EST on April 25, 1961 from Cape Canaveral, Florida, in a test designed to qualify the Mercury Spacecraft and all systems, which must function during orbit and reentry from orbit. The Mercury-Atlas vehicle was destroyed by Range Safety Officer about 40 seconds after liftoff. The spacecraft was recovered and appeared to be in good condition. Atlas was designed to launch payloads into low Earth orbit, geosynchronous transfer orbit or geosynchronous orbit. NASA first launched Atlas as a space launch vehicle in 1958. Project SCORE, the first communications satellite that transmitted President Eisenhower's pre-recorded Christmas speech around the world, was launched on an Atlas. For all three robotic lunar exploration programs, Atlas was used. Atlas/ Centaur vehicles launched both Mariner and Pioneer planetary probes. The current operational Atlas II family has a 100% mission success rating. For more information about Atlas, please see Chapter 2 in Roger Launius and Dennis Jenkins' book To Reach the High Frontier published by The University Press of Kentucky in 2002.
Date 04/25/1961
NASA Center Kennedy Space Center
Mercury Redstone 3 Prelaunch …
Title Mercury Redstone 3 Prelaunch Activities
Full Description Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3) Prelaunch Activities on the Mercury 5 launch pad.
Date 4/21/1961
NASA Center Kennedy Space Center
Mercury-Atlas Rocket on the …
Title Mercury-Atlas Rocket on the Launch Pad
Full Description Pre-launch test of the Mercury-Atlas 9 (MA9) on Launch Pad 14 at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Date 5/14/1963
NASA Center Kennedy Space Center
Mercury Astronaut Wally Schi …
Title Mercury Astronaut Wally Schirra
Full Description Astronaut Walter M. Schirra Jr. in Mercury pressure suit with model of Mercury capsule behind him.
Date 10/01/1962
NASA Center Johnson Space Center
Project Mercury Retro and Po …
Title Project Mercury Retro and Posigrade Package
Full Description The Retro and Posigrade Package for the Mercury spacecraft. This was used to de-orbit the spacecraft at the end of mission.
Date 09/16/1960
NASA Center Glenn Research Center
Astronaut John Glenn Undergo …
Title Astronaut John Glenn Undergoes Simulated Orbital Flight Training
Full Description Astronaut John H. Glenn, Jr., undergoes a simulated orbital flight as part of his training for Project Mercury in the Manned Spacecraft Center's procedure trainer at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.
Date 11/29/1961
NASA Center Kennedy Space Center
First Mercury-Atlas Attempte …
Title First Mercury-Atlas Attempted Launch
Full Description An Atlas vehicle is shown as it is raised into its launch gantry. This Atlas attempted to launch a Mercury spacecraft (without any astronauts aboard) into orbital flight. The launch vehicle developed 360,000 pounds of thrust and burned RP-1, a kerosene-like fuel, and liquid oxygen. It was about 60 feet in length and 10 feet in diameter at the tank section. This was the first attempt by NASA to put a Mercury spacecraft into Earth orbit. Unfortunately, this Atlas exploded at launch. Atlas was designed to launch payloads into low Earth orbit, geosynchronous transfer orbit or geosynchronous orbit. NASA first launched Atlas as a space launch vehicle in 1958. Project SCORE, the first communications satellite that transmitted President Eisenhower's pre-recorded Christmas speech around the world, was launched on an Atlas. For all three robotic lunar exploration programs, Atlas was used. Atlas/ Centaur vehicles launched Mariner and Pioneer planetary probes. The current operational Atlas II family has a 100% mission success rating. For more information about Atlas, please see Chapter 2 in Roger Launius and Dennis Jenkins' book To Reach the High Frontier published by The University Press of Kentucky in 2002.
Date 04/23/1961
NASA Center Headquarters
Mercury Transit from TRACE ( …
Title Mercury Transit from TRACE (White Light)
Abstract This is a view of the planet Mercury (a black dot) as seen by TRACE through its white light optical telescope. Because the TRACE field-of-view is much smaller than the solar disk, the spacecraft is repointed three times during the transit (creating the position jumps of the movie). This movie was generated from telemetry which has undergone a minimum of processing (to deliver quickly for the media) so data dropouts and other quick-processing artifacts may be visible. Special thanks to Dawn Myers of the TRACE project for this effort.
Completed 2006-11-14
Cooper
Title Cooper
Full Description Launch of Mercury Atlas 9 rocket with astronaut Gordon Cooper onboard from Launch Pad 14 at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Date 5/15/1963
NASA Center Kennedy Space Center
Shepard on Deck of Champlain …
Title Shepard on Deck of Champlain after Recovery
Full Description Astronaut Alan B. Shepard is seen on the deck of the U.S.S. Lake Champlain after the recovery of his Freedom 7 Mercury space capsule.
Date 05/05/1961
NASA Center Johnson Space Center
Mercury On Deck
Title Mercury On Deck
Full Description The crew of the U.S.S. Kearsarge spell out the words "Mercury 9" on the ship's flight deck while on the way to the recovery area where astronaut Gordon Cooper is expected to splash down in his "Faith 7" Mercury space capsule.
Date 05/15/1963
NASA Center Johnson Space Center
Project Mercury Altitude Win …
Title Project Mercury Altitude Wind Tunnel Gimbaling Rig
Full Description MASTIF - Multiple Axis Space Test Inertia Facility - was developed for Project Mercury to train astronauts in gaining control over a spacecraft that could move in multiple directions at once--pitching, rolling and yawing all at the same time. This photo is similar to photo GPN-2000-001186, but not identical.
Date 12/16/1959
NASA Center Glenn Research Center
Mecury Spacecraft Boilerplat …
Title Mecury Spacecraft Boilerplate
Full Description Boilerplate Mercury spacecraft being manufactured "in-house" by Langley technicians. The capsules were designed to test spacecraft recovery systems. The escape tower and rocket motors shown on the completed capsule would be removed before shipping and finally assembly for launching at Wallops Island. Design of the Little Joe capsules began at Langley before McDonnell started on the design of the Mercury capsule.
Date 07/30/1944
NASA Center Langley Research Center
Mercury 8 in Hanger
Title Mercury 8 in Hanger
Full Description Personnel in Hangar S at Cape Canaveral, Florida prepare Wally Schirra's Mercury 8 capsule nicknamed "Sigma 7" for delivery to the launch pad to be mated to the Atlas launch vehicle.
Date 09/10/1962
NASA Center Johnson Space Center
Mercury Capsule Model in Spi …
Title Mercury Capsule Model in Spin Tunnel
Full Description Mercury Capsule model in Spin Tunnel.
Date 9/11/1959
NASA Center Langley Research Center
Mercury Space Capsule
Title Mercury Space Capsule
Full Description The Mercury space capsule undergoing tests in Full Scale Wind Tunnel, January 1959.
Date 01/22/1959
NASA Center Langley Research Center
Carpenter in White Room
Title Carpenter in White Room
Full Description Inside Hangar S at the White Room Facility at Cape Canaveral, Florida, Mercury astronaut M. Scott Carpenter examines the honeycomb protective material on the main pressure bulkhead (heat shield) of his Mercury capsule nicknamed "Aurora 7.
Date 03/06/1962
NASA Center Johnson Space Center
Alan Shepard
Title Alan Shepard
Full Description A closeup of astronaut Alan Shepard in his space suit seated inside the Mercury capsule. He is undergoing a flight simulation test with the capsule mated to the Redstone booster.
Date 4/29/1961
NASA Center Kennedy Space Center
Mercury 3 Flight Simulation
Title Mercury 3 Flight Simulation
Full Description Alan Shepard, one of the three prime astronauts, is being inserted into a Mercury capsule. A flight simulation test with a full countdown is programmed for Shepard to check out hardware and launch personnel activities in the Redstone launch.
Date 4/29/1961
NASA Center Kennedy Space Center
Cooper Departs Transfer Van
Title Cooper Departs Transfer Van
Full Description Astronaut Gordon Cooper departing the Transfer Van in his silver pressure suit and helmet, is greeted with applause from the assembled Pad 14 employees. When he arrives at the base of the service tower, he'll ride an elevator up to where his Mercury spacecraft nicknamed, "Faith 7" awaits his arrival.
Date 5/15/1963
NASA Center Kennedy Space Center
Shepard Enters Cleanroom
Title Shepard Enters Cleanroom
Full Description Astronaut Alan B. Shepard, Jr., makes his way from the elevator to the cleanroom atop the service tower where he'll be inserted into his Mercury space capsule nicknamed "Freedom 7.
Date 5/5/1961
NASA Center Kennedy Space Center
Shepard Hoisted into Recover …
Title Shepard Hoisted into Recovery Helicopter
Full Description Astronaut Alan B. Shepard is hoisted aboard a U.S. Marine helicopter after splashdown of his "Freedom 7" Mercury space capsule.
Date 05/05/1961
NASA Center Johnson Space Center
Gordon Cooper in Helmet and …
Title Gordon Cooper in Helmet and Pressure Suit
Full Description Astronaut L. Gordon Cooper in white room, waiting for Terminal Countdown Demonstrations Test (TCDT) activities to resume in preparation for his Mercury- Atlas 9 launch.
Date 4/30/1963
NASA Center Kennedy Space Center
Ham Retreival
Title Ham Retreival
Full Description The famous "hand shake" welcome. Chimpanzee Ham is greeted by recovery ship Commander after his flight on the Mercury Redstone rocket.
Date 1/31/1961
NASA Center Kennedy Space Center
Ham Tries Out His Life Suppo …
Title Ham Tries Out His Life Support System
Full Description Ham tries out his combination couch and life support system in preparation for his flight in Mercury Redstone-2 (MR-2). The couch is plugged into the circuit that normally would supply the astronaut's full pressure suit. The MR-2 flight was one in a series of flights that led to the manned orbital flights of NASA's Project Mercury program.
Date 01/28/1961
NASA Center Kennedy Space Center
Astronaut L. Gordon Cooper
Name of Image Astronaut L. Gordon Cooper
Date of Image 1959-04-27
Full Description Astronaut L. Gordon Cooper, Jr., one of the original seven astronauts for Mercury Project selected by NASA on April 27, 1959. The MA-9 mission, boosted by the Mercury-Atlas launch vehicle, was the last flight of the Mercury Project. The Faith 7 spacecraft orbited the Earth 22 times in 1-1/2 days.
Glenn Enters his Mercury Cap …
Title Glenn Enters his Mercury Capsule
Full Description Astronaut John H. Glenn Jr. enters his Mercury capsule, "Friendship 7" as he prepares for launch of the Mercury-Atlas rocket. On February 20, 1962 Glenn lifted off into space aboard his Mercury Atlas 6 (MA-6) rocket and became the first American to orbit the Earth. After orbiting the Earth 3 times, Friendship 7 landed in the Atlantic Ocean 4 hours, 55 minutes and 23 seconds later, just East of Grand Turk Island in the Bahamas. Glenn and his capsule were recovered by the Navy Destroyer Noa, 21 minutes after splashdown.
Date 02/20/1962
NASA Center Johnson Space Center
Little Joe on launcher at Wa …
Title Little Joe on launcher at Wallops Island
Full Description Little Joe on launcher at Wallops Island. Little Joe was a major project for Langley. It was a test of the escape and recovery systems on the Mercury spacecraft.
Date 8/21/1959
NASA Center Langley Research Center
Launch of Mercury-Atlas
Title Launch of Mercury-Atlas
Full Description In this Project Mercury test, a spacecraft booster by a modified Atlas was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Mercury capsule reached a peak altitude of 107 statute miles and landed 1.425 miles down range. Atlas was designed to launch payloads into low Earth orbit, geosynchronous transfer orbit or geosynchronous orbit. NASA first launched Atlas as a space launch vehicle in 1958. Project SCORE, the first communications satellite that transmitted President Eisenhower's pre-recorded Christmas speech around the world, was launched on an Atlas. For all three robotic lunar exploration programs, Atlas was used. Atlas/ Centaur vehicles launched both Mariner and Pioneer planetary probes. The current operational Atlas II family has a 100% mission success rating. For more information about Atlas, please see Chapter 2 in Roger Launius and Dennis Jenkins' book To Reach the High Frontier published by The University Press of Kentucky in 2002 (in which Dennis Jenkins notes on page 98 that "as a space launch vehicle there is no question that Atlas has made a mark for itself, and a great deal of money for its manufacturers").
Date 02/21/1961
NASA Center Kennedy Space Center
Alan Shepard in Space Suit b …
Title Alan Shepard in Space Suit before Mercury Launch
Full Description Profile of astronaut Alan Shepard in his silver pressure suit with the helmet visor closed as he prepares for his upcoming Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3) launch. On May 5th 1961, Alan B. Shepard Jr. became the first American to fly into space. His Freedom 7 Mercury capsule flew a suborbital trajectory lasting 15 minutes 22 seconds. His spacecraft splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean where he and Freedom 7 were recovered by helicopter and transported to the awaiting aircraft carrier U.S.S. Lake Champlain.
Date 07/28/1961
NASA Center Johnson Space Center
John Glenn enters his Friend …
Title John Glenn enters his Friendship 7 capsule
Full Description Project Mercury astronaut John H. Glenn, Jr. enters his Mercury ?Friendship 7? capsule before launch on February 20, 1962. At 9:47 a.m. (EST), his Atlas launch vehicle lifted him into orbit for his flight lasting 4 hours, 55 minutes and 23 seconds. Onboard Friendship 7, Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth, and the third American to fly in space. A faulty signal indicating a problem with the heat shield forced NASA mission controllers to cut the flight to only three orbits, but Glenn returned to Earth safely.
Date 02/20/1967
NASA Center Johnson Space Center
Project Mercury - AWT Gimbal …
Title Project Mercury - AWT Gimbaling Rig
Full Description The Gimbal Rig, formally known as the MASTIF of Multiple Axis Space Test Inertia Facility, was engineered to simulate the tumbling and rolling motions of a space capsule and train the Mercury astronauts to control roll, pitch and yaw by activating nitrogen jets, used as brakes and bring the vehicle back into control. This facility was built at the Lewis Research Center, now John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field.
Date 10/29/1957
NASA Center Glenn Research Center
Molded Astronaut Couches
Title Molded Astronaut Couches
Full Description Molded astronaut couches line the NASA Langley Research Centers model shop wall. The names of the test subjects (Langley employees) are written on the back. The couches are similar to those made for each astronaut and fitted into the Mercury capsules for manned spaceflight.
Date 07/07/1959
NASA Center Langley Research Center
Cooper Inside Faith 7 After …
Title Cooper Inside Faith 7 After Hatch is Blown
Full Description Astronaut L. Gordon Cooper Jr., has a smile for the recovery crew of the U.S.S. Kearsarge, after he is on board from a successful 22 orbit mission of the Earth in his Mercury spacecraft "Faith 7." Cooper is still sitting in his capsule, with his helmet off.
Date 05/16/1963
NASA Center Johnson Space Center
Grissom Onboard the USS Rand …
Title Grissom Onboard the USS Randolph
Full Description Astronaut Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, pilot of the Mercury spacecraft, "Liberty Bell 7" arrives aboard the recovery ship, U.S.S. Randolph, following his 15 minute 37 seconds suborbital space mission. He is flanked by military medical officers. Grissom's capsule sank soon after splashdown and was not recovered until nearly forty years later.
Date 07/21/1961
NASA Center Johnson Space Center
Astronaut Escape Testing
Title Astronaut Escape Testing
Full Description Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3) flight configuration with cherry picker, on one of many tests conducted to evaluate astronaut escape feasibility.
Date 4/29/1961
NASA Center Kennedy Space Center
Astronaut John Glenn being H …
Title Astronaut John Glenn being Honored
Full Description Astronaut John Glenn, Jr. is honored by President John F. Kennedy after his historical first manned orbital flight. The ceremony is being held at the Manned Spacecraft Center in Langley, Virginia. The Center moved to Houston, Texas later that year, where it continues to reside.
Date 2/23/1962
NASA Center Johnson Space Center
Freedom 7 Prelaunch
Title Freedom 7 Prelaunch
Full Description Astronaut Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom wishes Alan B. Shepard a safe flight just before insertion into the Freedom 7 spacecraft mated on the Redstone rocket.
Date 5/5/1961
NASA Center Kennedy Space Center
Ham Launch
Title Ham Launch
Full Description Mercury-Redstone 2 (MR-2) Launch with chimpanzee Ham aboard. Monkeys had been flown into space before, but Ham was the first higher primate to test a spacecraft.
Date 1/31/1961
NASA Center Kennedy Space Center
John Glenn Entering Friendsh …
Title John Glenn Entering Friendship 7
Full Description Overall view of astronaut John Glenn, Jr., as he enters into the spacecraft Friendship 7 prior to MA-6 launch operations at Launch Complex 14. Astronaut Glenn is entering his spacecraft to begin the first American manned Earth orbital mission.
Date 2/20/1962
NASA Center Kennedy Space Center
Launch of Freedom 7
Title Launch of Freedom 7
Full Description Launch of Freedom 7, the first American manned suborbital space flight. Astronaut Alan Shepard aboard, the Mercury-Redstone (MR-3) rocket is launched from Pad 5.
Date 5/5/1961
NASA Center Kennedy Space Center
Glenn Suits-Up for Launch
Title Glenn Suits-Up for Launch
Full Description Astronaut John H. Glenn Jr. dons his silver Mercury pressure suit in preparation for launch. On February 20, 1962 Glenn lifted off into space aboard his Mercury Atlas (MA-6) rocket and became the first American to orbit the Earth. After orbiting the Earth 3 times, Friendship 7 landed in the Atlantic Ocean 4 hours, 55 minutes and 23 seconds later, just East of Grand Turk Island in the Bahamas. Glenn and his capsule were recovered by the Navy Destroyer Noa, 21 minutes after splashdown.
Date 02/20/1962
NASA Center Johnson Space Center
John Glenn OK
Title John Glenn OK
Full Description Astronaut John Glenn and technicians inspect artwork that will be painted on the outside of his Mercury spacecraft. John Glenn nicknamed his capsule "Friendship 7". On February 20, 1962 astronaut John H. Glenn Jr. lifted off into space aboard his Mercury Atlas (MA-6) rocket and became the first American to orbit the Earth. After orbiting the Earth 3 times, Friendship 7 landed in the Atlantic Ocean 4 hours, 55 minutes and 23 seconds later, just East of Grand Turk Island in the Bahamas. Glenn and his capsule were recovered by the Navy Destroyer Noa, 21 minutes after splashdown.
Date 02/02/1962
NASA Center Johnson Space Center
Astronaut Scott Carpenter
Name of Image Astronaut Scott Carpenter
Date of Image 1959-04-27
Full Description Astronaut Scott Carpenter, one of the original seven astronauts for Mercury Project selected by NASA on April 27, 1959. Boosted by the Mercury-Atlas vehicle, the MA-7 mission made the second marned orbital flight by the United States, and carried Astronaut Carpenter aboard Aurora 7 spacecraft to orbit the Earth three times.
Astronaut John H. Glenn
Name of Image Astronaut John H. Glenn
Date of Image 1959-04-27
Full Description Astronaut John H. Glenn, one of the original seven astronauts for Mercury Project selected by NASA on April 27, 1959. The MA-6 mission, boosted by the Mercury-Atlas vehicle, was the first manned orbital launch by the United States, and carried Astronaut Glenn aboard the Friendship 7 spacecraft to orbit the Earth.
Astronaut Walter M. Schirra
Name of Image Astronaut Walter M. Schirra
Date of Image 1959-04-27
Full Description Astronaut Walter M. "Wally" Schirra, one of the original seven astronauts for Mercury Project selected by NASA on April 27, 1959. The MA-8 (Mercury-Atlas) mission with Sigma 7 spacecraft was the third marned orbital flight by the United States, and made the six orbits in 9-1/4 hours.
Sam the Monkey After His Rid …
Title Sam the Monkey After His Ride in the Little Joe 2 Spacecraft
Full Description Sam, the Rhesus monkey, after his ride in the Little Joe-2 (LJ-2) spacecraft. A U.S. Navy destroyer safely recovered Sam after he experienced three minutes of weightlessness during the flight. Animals were often used during test flights for Project Mercury to help determine the effects of spaceflight and weightlessness on humans. LJ-2 was one in a series of flights that led up to the human orbital flights of NASA's Project Mercury program. The Little Joe rocket booster was developed as a cheaper, smaller, and more functional alternative to the Redstone rockets. Little Joe could be produced at one-fifth the cost of Redstone rockets and still have enough power to carry a capsule payload. Seven unmanned Little Joe rockets were launched from Wallops Island, Virginia from August 1959 to April 1961.
Date 12/04/1959
NASA Center Johnson Space Center
Cooper Egressing "Faith 7
Title Cooper Egressing "Faith 7
Full Description Astronaut L. Gordon Cooper is assisted in backing out of his Mecury capsule "Faith 7" after a 600,000 mile, 22.9 orbit journey around the Earth. He elected to remain in the spacecraft until it was hoisted to the deck of the Kearsarge, as did Astronaut Walter Schirra during the previous mission.
Date 05/16/1963
NASA Center Johnson Space Center
Project Mercury Astronauts
Title Project Mercury Astronauts
Full Description Project Mercury Astronauts, whose selection was announced on April 9, 1959, only six months after the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was formally established on October 1, 1958. They are: front row, left to right, Walter H. Schirra, Jr., Donald K. Slayton, John H. Glenn, Jr., and Scott Carpenter, back row, Alan B. Shepard, Jr., Virgil I. Gus Grissom, and L. Gordon Cooper.
Date 9/13/1968
NASA Center Kennedy Space Center
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