Mercury Atlas 6Spacecraft:S/C-13 Launch Vehicle: Atlas 109-D Launched: 20 Feb 1962 |
Prime Crew |
Description: 1st Mercury Atlas manned orbital |
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J H Glenn 
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Backup Crew |
D K Slayton
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| Duration: 0.21 days
Decay Date: 1962-02-20 USAF Sat Cat: 240 COSPAR: 1962-Gamma-1 Apogee: 265 km (164 mi) Perigee: 159 km (98 mi) Inclination: 32.5000 deg Period: 88.60 min First US manned orbital mission. Landing bag deploy light led to the decision to reenter with retropack left in place in the hope that their straps would keep the heat shield in place until aerodynamic forces ensured keeping the heat shield in place. It turned out that indicator light was false and a spectacular reentry ensued, with glowing chunks of the retropack whizzing by the window. After four hours and 43 minutes the spacecraft reentered the atmosphere and landed at 2:43 pm EST in the planned recovery area NE of the Island of Puerto Rico. All flight objectives were achieved. Glenn was reported to be in excellent condition. Beause of failure of one of the automatic systems, the astronaut took over manual control of the spacecraft during part of the flight. With this flight, the basic objectives of Project Mercury had been achieved. Glenn was the first man to return from orbit in his spacecraft. References:
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