Man in Space Soonest

Man in Space Soonest was an early U.S. space program initiated in the late 1950s, aimed at quickly developing human spaceflight capabilities. It was a response to Cold War competition, focusing on creating a missile system that could deliver humans into space and return them safely. The program helped develop key technology, such as human space capsules and launch vehicles, laying groundwork for future missions. Although it was eventually overshadowed by more comprehensive programs like Mercury and Apollo, Man in Space Soonest played a crucial role in accelerating American efforts to reach and explore space with human crewed missions.