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 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

As a part of the first U.S. human spaceflight program, Project Mercury, this capsule was launched on unmanned mission, Mercury-Atlas 2 (MA-2), on February 21, 1961. Mission objectives were to test spacecraft performance during maximum acceleration, and to measure the heat on the spacecraft following a simulated critical abort in which the spacecraft separated itself from the Atlas launch vehicle before reaching orbit.

The spacecraft did not go into orbit, but rather flew on an 18-minute suborbital mission that reached a maximum altitude of 182 km (114 miles), and landed 2290 km (1432 miles) downrange. This success helped to pave the way for the first American manned space launch on May 5, 1961, on the Redstone booster. In 1967 NASA transferred title of the spacecraft 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-Test Vehicles Manufacturer McDonnell Aircraft Corp.
 Dimensions Overall: 112 in. tall (284.5cm)
Support (at base): 73 in. in diameter (185.4cm)
 Materials Skin & Structure: Titanium
Shingles: Nickel-steel alloy; Beryllium shingles removed
Ablation Shield: Glass fibers, resin
 Inventory Number A19710064000 Credit Line Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.