Page 6 - The Appollo Story

The Apollo story

Apollo a reality
The Apollo program ran from 1961 until 1975. This was America's third orbital human space flight pro-
gram (following Mercury and Gemini). It used Apollo spacecraft and Saturn launch vehicles, which were
also used for the Skylab program in 1973-74, and a joint U.S.A - Soviet mission in 1975. These subse-
quent programs are thus often considered part of the Apollo program.
While the Mercury capsule could only support one astronaut on a limited earth orbital mission, and the
Gemini program two astronauts, the Apollo spacecraft was able to carry three astronauts on a circumlunar
flight and eventually to a lunar landing. In the short span of only eight years or so, manned space explora-
tion had gone from zero to the Moon.

First Day of Issue

f 7 !RST DAY OF ISSUE

Fh. Robe.Jtt J . Glep~o
Sa),nt Igna.tiuc, 'chWLc.h.
10205 LohMn Avenue
COMMEMORATING THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL Clev~a.nd, Ohlo 44111
ORBITAL FLIGHT BY AN AMERICAN·FEB-20,1962
John H. Glenn, Jr.

Both covers commemorate the first launching of Project Mercury and Gemini. John H Glenn was the
first Mercury astronaut in February 1962. The first Gemini launch, along with the second, were test
flights. The first two man crew - Virgil "Gus" Grissom and John W. Young were launched 11 months
later on 23 March 1965.

GEMINI

FIRED INTO ORBIT
....
+ .
. +

WORLD;S FIRST TWO MAN SPACE CAPSULE