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Launch Success
Liftoff Time (GMT)
14:47:39
Tuesday February 20, 1962
Watch Replay
Official Livestream
Astronaut John Glenn became the first U.S. astronaut to orbit the Earth.
Mercury-Atlas 6 (MA-6) was the third human spaceflight for the U.S. and part of Project Mercury. The mission was piloted by astronaut John Glenn, who performed three orbits of the Earth, making him the first U.S. astronaut to orbit the Earth. The Mercury spacecraft, named Friendship 7, was carried to orbit by an Atlas LV-3B launch vehicle lifting off from Launch Complex 14 at Cape Canaveral, Florida. After four hours and 56 minutes in flight, the spacecraft re-entered the Earth's atmosphere, splashed down in the North Atlantic Ocean and was safely taken aboard USS Noa.
Low Earth Orbit
1 Payload
2,981 kilograms
7th
Mission
1st
Mission of 1962
5th
Orbital launch attempt