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Catalog Data

Astronaut:
Alan B. Shepard Jr.  Search this
Manufacturer:
McDonnell Aircraft Corp.  Search this
Materials:
Ferrous Alloy
Unknown Coating
Dimensions:
3-D: 2.5 × 1.9cm (1 × 3/4 in.)
3-D: 5.1 × 4.4cm (2 × 1 3/4 in.)
Type:
SPACECRAFT-Crewed-Parts & Structural Components
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Summary:
On May 5, 1961, Alan Shepard became the first American to fly in a space capsule. He named it "Freedom 7," the number signifying the seven Mercury astronauts. NASA called the mission Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3). Lofted by a Redstone rocket, Shepard and his capsule attained a maximum speed of 5180 mph and rose to an altitude of 116 miles. The sub-orbital flight lasted 15 minutes and 28 seconds. Freedom 7 parachuted into the sea 302 miles from the launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida, and was retrieved by helicopter, along with Shepard.
NASA gave "Freedom 7" to the Smithsonian in October 1961, the first manned spacecraft accessioned into the National Collection. These two pieces are part of the parachute attachment system.
Credit Line:
Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Inventory Number:
A19620021008
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9c0460fc1-eb79-428c-afab-7e8b9415af8c
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19620021008