NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

Faith 7 (MA-9)

Launch Time
Wed May 15, 1963 13:04 UTC

The final crewed mission for the Project Mercury program.

Rocket

Atlas-D Mercury
Image Credit: USAF or NASA
NASA
Status: Retired
Liftoff Thrust: 1,880 kN
Payload to LEO: 1,360 kg
Stages: 2
Strap-ons: 0
Rocket Height: 28.7 m

Mission Details

Mercury-Atlas 9 (MA-9)

Mercury-Atlas 9 was the final crewed space mission of the U.S. Mercury program. The spacecraft, named Faith 7, completed 22 Earth orbits before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean, piloted by astronaut Gordon Cooper, then an Air Force major. The Atlas rocket was No. 130-D, and the Mercury spacecraft was No. 20. This mission marks the last time an American was launched alone to conduct an entirely solo orbital mission.

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 1,360.0 kg
Low Earth Orbit

Location

LC-14, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA

Stats

1963

22nd orbital launch attempt

Atlas LV-3B

10th mission
1st mission of 1963
7th successful mission
6th consecutive successful mission