US space mission

[SHALOM]

Which series of US space missions preceded the Apollo moon series? Thanks in advance

[Phantaxus]

the Mercury missions

See the movie "the right stuff"

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086197/

[mibn2cweus]

Gemini

[spudmuffa]

There was a little known US mission called " Manning" back in the Sixties, when the USA wanted to compete with the USSR in putting the first animal in space. As you are are aware the USSR was first, with a dog called Laika.
The failed USA Manning Mission, was to put the first hamster in space. They called the hamster Manning, after the British comedian Bernard.
Unfortunately, Bernard slapped a copyright on NASA, and the flight never took off.
Fortunately for Manning the hamster, he went on to live a life of a celebrity and fathered 1,200 offspring. He died in 1966 (not Bernard) and is laid at rest in an old cocoa tin,in the garden adjacent to the The Frigate pub in Bolton. Hope this helps.