This is a 1:25 scale model of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) Mercury-Atlas rocket. Flight testing of the Air Force's liquid-fuel Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile began in 1957, and the following year the newly-created NASA selected the Atlas D version as one of the launch vehicles for the first manned spaceflight program, Project Mercury. After undergoing several modifications by NASA, the rocket was designated the Mercury-Atlas. A modified Army Redstone medium-range ballistic missile (Mercury-Redstone) served as the launch vehicle in the two manned Mercury suborbital flights in 1961, while the Mercury-Atlas was the launch vehicle for the four manned Mercury orbital flights in 1962-1963.
The manufacturer of the model is unknown. NASA transferred it to the museum.
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
MODELS-Missiles & Rockets
Manufacturer
Unknown
Dimensions
Overall: 3ft 4in. x 8in. (101.6 x 20.32cm)
3-D (Body): 87 × 19.7 × 15.2cm (34 1/4 × 7 3/4 × 6 in.)
Storage: 100.6 × 26 × 27cm (39 5/8 × 10 1/4 × 10 5/8 in.)
Materials
Wood
Paint
Steel
Aluminum
Plastic
Adhesive
Ink
Inventory Number
A19800162000
Credit Line
Transferred from NASA
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
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