Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer

This plastic icon was placed on a large wall map of the Earth and used in the Mission Control room at Cape Canaveral, during the Mercury and early Gemini eras. The map, with this icon, was featured on many news reports from that era and is well-remembered by the public. Wires attached to the icon and linked to telemetry data allowed it to be moved across the map, to show where the spacecraft was at any time. It is in the shape of a Mercury capsule, although it was used for the first few Gemini flights as well.

Midway through the Gemini program, Mission Control moved to Houston, Texas, and the control room at Cape Canaveral was dismantled. This icon was one of the few historic pieces salvaged from that center.

 Display Status

This object is on display in Destination Moon at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.

Destination Moon
Object Details
Country of Origin United States of America Type SPACECRAFT-Crewed-Guidance & Control Dimensions 3-D (including wires): 15 × 18.5 × 2cm (5 7/8 × 7 5/16 × 13/16 in.)
 Materials Plastic material, probably plexiglas.
 Inventory Number A20020366000 Credit Line Gift of Steven R. Cox. Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.