Mercury capsule #17 was the seventheenth of twenty spacecraft built for the first American human spaceflight project, which aimed to put a man in orbit. Between 1961 and 1963, six Mercury astronauts were launched on suborbital and orbital missions. Capsule #17 was sent to Cape Canaveral on April 18, 1963, as a possible source of spare parts for Gordon Cooper's Faith 7 spacecraft (#20), which was launched on the Mercury-Atlas 9 (MA-9) thirty-four hour orbital mission in May. Spacecraft #17 was also held in reserve for a second long-duration mission, MA-10, which was not flown.
In early 1968, NASA Manned Spacecraft Center (now Johnson Space Center) gave this capsule to the Smithsonian.
Display Status
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin
United States of America
Type
SPACECRAFT-Crewed
Manufacturer
McDonnell Aircraft Corp.
Dimensions
Overall: 112 x 73in. (284.5 x 185.4cm)
Materials
HAZMAT: Beryllium
Skin & Structure: Titanium
Shingles: Nickel-steel alloy; Beryllium shingles removed
Ablation Shield: Glass fibers, resin
Skin: Titanium
Shingles: Nickel-steel alloy; Beryllium shingles removed
Ablation Shield: Glass fibers, resin
Inventory Number
A19680570000
Credit Line
Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
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