Mercury-Atlas 9 launched on May 15, 1963 from Cape Canaveral with astronaut Gordon Cooper in the Faith 7 spacecraft. It was the final crewed mission of the Mercury program and the last time an American was launched alone on a solo mission.
Gordon passed Wally Schirra's original record of seven orbits, completing twenty-two during the 34-hour mission. Gordon conducted radiation experiments, recorded status reports, took pictures, and dined on powdered roast beef mush and water.
On May 16, Faith 7 splashed down four miles from the recovery ship, USS Kearsarge, the most accurate landing to date. The Mercury program had fulfilled all its mission objectives.
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