Engineers based their design on the Mercury capsule, but made it larger so that two astronauts could travel together.

It was a two-seater only slightly bigger than a Mercury capsule, or a really compact sports car.

"To be fair, it's only the equivalent of a Mercury capsule," he said.

This eliminated the need for the landing bag cushion used in the Mercury capsule.

The Mercury capsule was retrieved by helicopter and lowered to the deck.

He came up with the perfect re-entry vehicle - the Mercury capsule.

It was still small and cramped like the Mercury capsule, but allowed for more freedom of movement.

Liberty Bell 7 became the only Mercury capsule to suffer an integrity failure.

No Mercury capsule ever lost pressure during a mission, so the suits never needed to be inflated after launch.

Anyway, I've got more room than the old Mercury capsules.