This spacesuit was constructed to provide a realistic display of astronaut Alan Shepard. Alan Shepard was launched in Freedom 7 on May 5, 1961, a flight lasting approximately 15 minutes. It was the first manned mission of the US Space program.
As the suit was constructed for display purposes only, it has an exterior, but no interior layer. However, like the mission and training suits, it was manufactured by the B.F. Goodrich Company which were developed from the U.S. Navy MK- IV full pressure suit, was selected by NASA in 1959 for use in the Project Mercury.
Transferred from NASA - Manned Spacecraft Center in 1962.
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.