keywords: nasa, space exploration, project mercury, astronaut alan shepard, astronaut john glenn
Synopsis: This historical documentary traces the development of Project Mercury through the sub-orbital flight of Astronaut Alan Shepard in Freedom 7 (first American in space on May 5, 1961) and the orbital flight of Astronaut John Glenn in Friendship 7. These first manned space flights are related to later missions that would take man to the Moon.
