Astronauts

Project Mercury

Project Mercury was very important because it tested a persons ability to function in space. The U.S. was losing the space race against the Soviet union. Project Mercury was the U.S. attempt to get a person in orbit. When the U.S. got Alan Shepherd into space, that was the first step in learning about space.

Project Gemini

Project Gemini was the U.S. project to test equipment for moon landings. Project Gemini also trained the astronauts that were going attempt the moon landings in how to work the equipment and perform the complicated maneuvers required to control spacecraft.

The Apollo Program

The Apollo program landed the first humans on the moon and also helped develop technology to meet other interests in space, also developed mankind's capabilities to work in a lunar environment. When Apollo 11 landed on the moon, this marked a revolution in space technology and the progress of mankind that they could land people on places that once seemed unreachable.