the Mercury program
/ðə ˈmɜːkjəri prəʊɡræm/
/ðə ˈmɜːrkjəri prəʊɡræm/
(also Project Mercury
/ˌprɒdʒekt ˈmɜːkjəri/
/ˌprɑːdʒekt ˈmɜːrkjəri/
)- the US space programme (1961-63) to put a man into orbit (= circular path in space) around the earth. This was achieved when John Glenn became the first person to go into orbit on 20 February 1962. see also Alan Shepard