The goal of the Mercury space program, the first human spaceflight program of the United States, was to put a man into orbit around Earth and return him safely.

Here's a breakdown of the program's objectives:

* Test the feasibility of human spaceflight: Before Mercury, no one knew if humans could survive the harsh conditions of space. This program aimed to prove that it was possible.

* Gather data on human performance in space: The program sought to collect information about how humans would react physically and psychologically to the rigors of space travel.

* Develop the technologies necessary for space travel: This included designing and building spacecraft, life support systems, and launch vehicles.

* Demonstrate US technological capability: In the midst of the Cold War, the Mercury program was seen as a major step towards demonstrating US technological superiority over the Soviet Union, who had already launched the first satellite, Sputnik, and the first man in space, Yuri Gagarin.

The Mercury program was ultimately successful, achieving its goal of putting a man in orbit and returning him safely. It paved the way for subsequent human spaceflight programs, such as Gemini and Apollo, which ultimately landed the first humans on the moon.