Mercury Capsule 

Step back to the dawn of the Space Age with the Mercury capsule, a compact, one-person spacecraft that represented Americas first bold leap into human spaceflight. Project Mercury (1958–1963) was created to test whether humans could survive and function in space. The capsule on display mirrors the same kind flown by pioneers like John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth. Standing before the Mercury capsule, guests are struck by its modest size — roughly that of a phone booth — and the minimal controls and accommodations inside. Despite its simplicity, it endured intense launch forces and the fiery return through Earth’s atmosphere. This exhibit captures both the technological innovation of early NASA and the bravery of astronauts who climbed into these tiny capsules to explore the unknown.