Freedom 7 traveled at a maximum speed of 8335 kilometers (5180 miles) per hour, going 485 kilometers (302 miles) downrange. The maximum altitude was 187 kilometers (116 miles).
Prime contractor for Mercury was the McDonnell Aircraft Company.
The Freedom 7 is from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
| Diameter | 2 m. (6 ft., 6 in.) max. |
| Length | 2.8 m. (9 ft., 2 in.) at launch |
| Weight | 1660 kg. (3650 lb.) at launch; 1100 kg. (2422 lb.) as exhibited |
Gemini 7
83. This photo of Gemini 7 was taken through the hatch window of the Gemini 6 spacecraft during rendezvous maneuvers 260 kilometers (160 miles) above Earth.
Gemini 7 was launched on December 4, 1965, carrying astronauts Frank Borman and James Lovell, Jr., into a two-week flight. Gemini 6 and 7 accomplished the first manned rendezvous in space. It was an historic flight for the United States’ manned space program and an important step in the preparation for the Apollo lunar flights.
The story of the Gemini 7/6 mission had begun two months earlier. The October launch of Gemini 6 had to be delayed when Gemini 6’s Agena target vehicle failed to reach orbit. It was then decided that Gemini 6 would attempt to rendezvous with Gemini 7. Eight days after the launch of Gemini 7, Gemini 6 was ready. But once again, the launch had to be delayed—this time an electrical plug became detached from the Titan booster prematurely, shutting down the engines. Finally, on December 15, Gemini 6’s Titan II launch vehicle lifted off. Gemini 6 began a 6-hour chase to catch Gemini 7, which was in a near-circular orbit 300 kilometers (186 miles) high.