The Space Race: Neil Armstrong
The Mercury and Gemini Programs were the first two human spaceflight programs of the United States, running from 1958 through 1963 and 1961 through 1966, respectively. These programs were essential to the success of the Apollo program that eventually sent Neil Armstrong to the moon.
The Mercury program was designed to put a human in orbit around the Earth, and it accomplished that goal with the flight of astronaut Alan Shepard in May 1961. It was followed by several other manned missions, including the famous flight of John Glenn, who became the first American to orbit the Earth in February 1962.
The Gemini program was the bridge between the Mercury and Apollo programs, and it was designed to test the technologies and techniques that would be necessary for a moon landing. The program included ten manned missions, including the famous flight of Gemini 4, which saw the first American spacewalk by astronaut Ed White. The program also tested rendezvous and docking procedures that would be crucial for the Apollo program.
Overall, the Mercury and Gemini programs were essential stepping stones to the eventual success of the Apollo program, and they laid the groundwork for all human spaceflight that has followed since.
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