The mission was a technical success, though American pride in the accomplishment was dampened by the fact that just three weeks before, the Soviet Union had launched the first man in space, Yuri Gagarin, who completed one orbit on Vostok 1.
Misija je bila tehnički uspjeh, iako je američki na postignuće razvodnila činjenica da je, prije samo 3 tjedna, Sovjetski Savez lansirao prvog čovjeka u svemir, Jurija Gagarina, koji je obletio Zemlju (jednu orbitu) u letjelici Vostok 1.