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Mercury-Atlas 1 Flown Heatshield

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:300.00 - 400.00 USD
Mercury-Atlas 1 Flown Heatshield

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Auction Date:2019 Oct 17 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:15th Floor WeWork, Boston, Massachusetts, 02108, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Flown René 41 outer shell and insulation fragments from the Mercury-Atlas 1 space capsule, measuring approximately .75? x .5?, matted with images to an overall size of 11 x 14. In very good to fine condition, with slight bends to the matted presentation.

Less than a minute after the launch of the unmanned Mercury-Atlas 1 on July 29, 1960, both its rocket and capsule sank into the Atlantic Ocean following a structural failure in the craft’s Atlas rocket. Successful recovery of the capsule and portions of the rocket showed that the vent valve and a still-attached segment of piping had noticeable fatigue cracks, leading engineers to conclude that reinforced skin structure and shallower launch trajectories need be implemented for future Mercury-Atlas launches.

Provenance: The Spaceflight America Museum and Science Center in Prince Frederick, MD, and accompanied by the museum's display placard.