Lot 40037
40037: Mercury-Redstone 4 (liberty Bell 7) Flown Compon
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Description
Mercury-Redstone 4 (Liberty Bell 7) Flown Component from the Recovered Spacecraft in Lucite. A handsome display of 5.25" x 4.25" x 1.75" containing a nut removed from the capsule along with a photo and explanatory text. The Mercury Project was the first United States human spaceflight program. Running from 1959 through 1963, its goal was to put a man in orbit around the earth. Mercury-Redstone 4, the second suborbital flight in the program, launched on July 21, 1961. Its capsule was named Liberty Bell 7, and the flight was piloted by Virgil "Gus" Grissom. Unfortunately, shortly after splashdown the hatch unexpectedly blew off and the Liberty Bell 7 began taking on water. Grissom was able to escape, but the capsule filled with water and quickly sank. Thirty-eight years later, a recovery team lifted the Liberty Bell 7 capsule off the floor of the Atlantic. The capsule was disassembled, cleaned, and sent on a national tour, ultimately going on permanent display at the Kansas Cosmosphere. This part was not able to be re-installed. Includes a printed Certificate of Authenticity. In original box. Pristine condition.
