Mercury-Atlas 9 (Faith 7)

Mission Overview

Mercury-Atlas 9 (Faith 7) was a critical step in America's path to the stars. Gordon Cooper's 22-orbit flight, lasting over 34 hours and closing out the Project Mercury series. The mission demonstrated the engineering capability of the Mercury capsule, designed by McDonnell Aircraft, and built critical experience in tracking, ground control, and capsule recovery in the Atlantic Ocean. This flight contributed to the data required to validate launch vehicle performance and human survivability in extreme environments.

Flight Crew & Officers

Gordon Cooper

Commander / Astronaut Pilot Civilian

Multimedia Gallery

Official NASA historical record photography for Mercury-Atlas 9 (Faith 7).