This spacesuit helmet case was used to carry the helmet that NASA used with Scott Carpenter's display spacesuit. The suit, gloves and helmet were similar to the suit worn by Carpenter during the fourth orbital flight of a U.S. astronaut which took place on May 24, 1962. The flight lasted for 4 hours and 56 minutes, during which time he traveled over 76,000 miles.

The helmet and gloves from the suit were training equipment from the Mercury Era, in the early 1960s. B.F. Goodrich Company manufactured all the components manufactured, which were developed from the U.S. Navy MK-IV full pressure suit, that NASA selected in 1959 for use in the Project Mercury. This blue case kept the helmet safe from damage while it was transported from one training location to another.

North American Rockwell donated the case to the museum in 1973.

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