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Preserving History.
Sharing and Discovery.

Explore the images, videos, and stories that connect a historic Mercury capsule to a new generation of explorers.

HISTORIC ARCHIVE

At the heart of Go For Launch is a rare Mercury capsule educational exhibit with an extraordinary history. From its journey across America during the 1962 Freedom Bond Campaign to its appearance at the 1964–65 New York World's Fair, the capsule has witnessed an important chapter of America's Space Age. More than sixty years later, Go For Launch continues its legacy through preservation, historical storytelling, and educational outreach, connecting future generations with the pioneers who helped launch humanity into space.

PROJECT MERCURY: A CLOSER LOOK

Project Mercury marked the beginning of America's human spaceflight program, introducing the spacecraft, technology, and engineering that would help pave the way for future exploration. On February 20, 1962, astronaut John Glenn made history aboard Friendship 7, becoming the first American to orbit Earth and completing three orbits during the Mercury-Atlas 6 mission. These technical illustrations, spacecraft diagrams, and historical graphics offer a closer look at the remarkable engineering behind the Mercury program. From the capsule's compact interior and flight controls to its parachute systems and launch configuration, each image reveals the innovation and determination that helped transform the dream of human spaceflight into reality.

RESTORATION & PRESERVATION

For more than a decade, founder Mark Calhoun has dedicated his time, energy, and passion to restoring and preserving the historic Mercury capsule at the heart of Go For Launch. What began as an effort to protect a rare piece of America's space history has grown into a mission to educate, inspire, and connect future generations with the Space Age. Through years of research, restoration, and preservation, Mark has helped give this remarkable artifact new life. Today, the capsule continues its journey through public exhibits and educational outreach, inspiring curiosity and preserving the pioneering spirit that helped launch humanity into space.

THE EXHIBIT TODAY

Today, the restored Mercury capsule serves as the centerpiece of Go For Launch, bringing America's Space Age to life through traveling exhibits, educational programs, and community events. Combining authentic history, interactive storytelling, and STEM-focused experiences, the exhibit connects audiences of all ages with the innovation and pioneering spirit that helped launch humanity into space. From schools and museums to festivals and special events, Go For Launch continues the capsule's remarkable journey, preserving its legacy while inspiring the next generation of explorers.

MISSION:60s AT THE TWA HOTEL

Go For Launch was proud to participate in the MISSION:60s event at the historic TWA Hotel at New York's JFK Airport, bringing our Mercury capsule exhibit together with space enthusiasts, historians, and visitors from across the country. The event celebrated America's Space Age through shared stories, remarkable artifacts, and a passion for exploration. Highlights included meeting spacesuit replica artist Ryan Nagata and Bonnie Gordon, daughter of Mercury astronaut Gordon Cooper, along with countless others who share our fascination with space history. From meaningful conversations to unforgettable encounters, the weekend was a reminder of how the spirit of exploration continues to bring people together.

Discover the Mission

Preserving History. Inspiring Future Explorers.

Learn how a historic Mercury capsule became the foundation for a growing educational initiative dedicated to connecting people with America's Space Age. In this video, founder Mark Calhoun shares the history of the capsule, the restoration efforts that have spanned more than a decade, and the vision behind Go For Launch.

From preserving an important artifact to creating immersive learning opportunities for schools and communities, the mission remains the same: to inspire curiosity, celebrate innovation, and encourage the next generation of explorers, engineers, scientists, and dreamers.

Featured on PBS WHYY

Sharing Our Story With a Wider Audience

In 2020, PBS WHYY featured Mark Calhoun and the Mercury Capsule Restoration Project on their You Oughta Know program. The segment highlighted the capsule's remarkable history, Mark's restoration efforts, and the mission behind Go For Launch.

By sharing this story with viewers across the region, the feature helped raise awareness about preserving American space history while inspiring future generations through education, exploration, and discovery.

The Dream That Changed the World

Honoring Apollo 11. Inspiring Tomorrow's Explorers.

When Apollo 11 landed on the Moon in July 1969, it demonstrated what could be accomplished when innovation, determination, and imagination came together in pursuit of a common goal. It was a defining moment not only for America, but for all humanity. The mission inspired generations of scientists, engineers, educators, and explorers to dream bigger and reach farther.

This tribute from founder Mark Calhoun celebrates the legacy of Apollo 11 and the pioneers who made it possible. At Go For Launch, we believe preserving the history of the Space Race is about more than remembering the past, it's about inspiring the next generation to shape the future of exploration, innovation, and discovery

Join The Conversation

The story of exploration is still being written. Whether you have a memory of the Space Race, a question about space exploration, an idea for the future of Go For Launch, or simply a thought you'd like to share, we'd love to hear from you.

Selected submissions may be featured on our Community Voices board to help inspire future explorers and keep the conversation alive.

What inspires you about space exploration, innovation, education, or the Go For Launch mission?

Partner With Go For Launch

We’re actively seeking educators, community organizations, museums, sponsors, volunteers, and supporters who share our passion for preserving history and inspiring future generations.

Whether you’re interested in hosting the exhibit, collaborating on programming, or supporting our educational mission, we’d love to start a conversation.

Preserving History.Sharing and Discovery.