Mockup, Capsule, Mercury Tube and Cable

Project Mercury was the first U.S. human spaceflight program. Between 1961 and 1963, NASA launched six one-man Mercury capsules on suborbital and orbital missions. Mounted on top of the capsule was an orange escape tower, containing a solid-fuel rocket to pull the astronaut and his capsule away from the launch vehicle in an emergency on the launch pad or early in flight. Strapped to the back of the capsule, against the heat shield, was a retrorocket package, containing three retrorockets to bring the capsule out of orbit, and three small prograde rockets to effect separation from the launch vehicle.

The Mercury manufacturer, McDonnell Aircraft, built the Tube and Cable Mockup to test the layout of critical systems in the capsule. The Mockup was later refurbished by McDonnell to simulate the appearance of a real spacecraft, and was placed in the company museum. In March 1978, NASA transferred title to the National Air and Space Museum.