Mercury-Atlas 6 was the first crewed spaceflight in the Mercury program, launched on February 20, 1962. The mission carried astronaut John Glenn aboard the spacecraft Friendship 7, marking a significant milestone in the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union. During the flight, Glenn completed three orbits around the Earth, lasting approximately 4 hours and 55 minutes. The mission demonstrated the capabilities of human spaceflight and provided valuable data for future missions, solidifying Glenn's status as a national hero and paving the way for subsequent NASA space exploration efforts.