Object Details
Manufacturer
McDonnell Aircraft Corp.
Summary
John H. Glenn Jr. became the first American to orbit the Earth in the Mercury capsule Friendship 7. Glenn's three-orbit mission on February 20, 1962, was a sterling success, as he overcame problems with the automatic control system that would have ended an unmanned flight. But reentry was tense, as a faulty telemetry signal from the spacecraft indicated that the heat shield might be loose. Mission Control instructed Glenn not to jettison the retrorocket package after firing in order to better hold the heat shield in place. Glenn reentered successfully and splashed down in the Atlantic 4 hours, 55 minutes and 23 seconds after launch.
NASA transferred Friendship 7 to the Smithsonian Institution in 1963, which has exhibited it in buildings on the National Mall ever since. This parachute container is a spacecraft part removed from the nose in order to provide access to light the cockpit interior.
Credit Line
Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Inventory Number
A19670176003
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
EQUIPMENT-Parachutes
Materials
Fiberglass
Cotton
Synthetic Fabric
Aluminum
Stainless Steel
Steel
Foil
Anodized Aluminum
Paint
Adhesive
Dimensions
Storage (Rehoused on aluminum pallet with one additional object): 121.9 × 121.9 × 61cm, 46.3kg (48 × 48 × 24 in., 102lb.)
Country of Origin
United States of America
See more items in
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nasm_A19670176003