We follow the X-15 on one more parabolic arc through space and learn more about the pilots who flew it and some of the amazing results of the program.

High above the United States desert, the X-15 becomes America's second manned spacecraft and Joe Walker becomes the 7th American to fly in space.

We revisit Project Mercury while trying to put it into a larger context and examine President Kennedy's decision to send us to the Moon.

Gordon Cooper becomes the first astronaut to spend a full day in space and brings a successful conclusion to Project Mercury.

Wally Schirra and Sigma 7 show us how it's done and pave the way for the one day mission.

Science moves to the forefront and Scott Carpenter moves several hundred miles past the landing zone on Aurora 7.

John Glenn becomes the first American to orbit the Earth and has a close call with a potential heat shield problem.

The complete air to ground transmissions of Mercury-Redstone 4: the flight of Liberty Bell 7.

Gus Grissom flies the second and final suborbital flight of Project Mercury.

The complete air to ground transmissions, plus PAO commentary, for the Freedom 7 mission. Thanks to YouTube user lunarmodule5 for the audio. You can find his channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/lunarmodule5

Alan Shepard becomes the first American in space as he pilots Freedom 7.

A brief look at the buildup to crewed flights in Project Mercury.

The Space Above Us is a new podcast about the history of NASA human spaceflight.