Mercury
Project Mercury was the first U.S. program to put humans in space, there were 25 flights, six of which carried human astronauts between 1961 and 1963.
The first Mercury "astronaut" was Sam, a rhesus monkey, launched on 4 December 1959.
The astronauts selected for this program were called the Mercury 7.
Project Mercury (1958-1963) goals:
To orbit a manned spacecraft around Earth
To investigate man's ability to function in space
To recover both man and spacecraft safely
Additional Information:
NASA's Guide to Project Mercury
Take the Tour - Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center - First Floor - Google Expedition
Friendship 7
Click here or on the photo to learn about the capsule.
Freedom 7 II
Click here or on the photo to learn about the capsule.
Redstone Missile
Click here or on the photo to learn about the missile.