Object Details
Manufacturer
Thiokol Chemical Corporation
Summary
This is a Project Mercury retro rocket that decelerated or slowed down the one-person Mercury spacecraft in its orbit for reentry into Earth's atmosphere prior to recovery. An assembly of three of the solid-fuel motors was fitted onto the heat shield of the spacecraft. Any two of the motors could provide a safe reentry.
Each rocket produced about 1,000 pounds of thrust for ten seconds. The retro rockets were fired with five second delays between each one in order to gradually decrease the spacecraft's velocity sufficient for reentry. This motor was donated to the Smithsonian in 1973 by the Thiokol Chemical Corp.
Credit Line
Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Inventory Number
A19731457000
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
PROPULSION-Rocket Engines
Materials
Ferrous Alloy (Steel)
Non-Magnetic Metals
Possible Phenolic Resin
Uncharacterized Textile (and Possible Rubber Coating)
Paints
Rubber
Plastic
Paper
Ink
Adhesive Tape
Dimensions
3-D (Tank): 30.5 × 29.2 × 39.4cm (1 ft. × 11 1/2 in. × 1 ft. 3 1/2 in.)
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_A19731457000