These instrument-panel replacement bulbs were carried as part of the cockpit equipment of Friendship 7, the Mercury capsule in which John H. Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth. Glenn's flight was the third manned mission of Project Mercury, following two suborbital flights by astronauts in 1961. Glenn's three-orbit mission on February 20, 1962, was a sterling success, as he overcame problems with the automatic control system that would have ended an unmanned flight. Glenn splashed down in the Atlantic 4 hours, 55 minutes and 23 seconds after launch.
In 1962, NASA transferred Friendship 7 to the Smithsonian Institution, along with a number of astronaut and cockpit items.
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-Parts & Structural Components
Manufacturer
Unknown
Dimensions
Approximate: 1/2 in. deep x 1 in. tall x 3 in. long (1.27 x 2.54 x 7.62cm)
Materials
phenolic card, glass and metal bulbs and metal(?) socket
Inventory Number
A19670202000
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.