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Credit & Copyright: Courtesy NASA
Explanation:
Today, the space capsule Liberty Bell 7 rests about 3 miles
below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean.
But on July 21, 1961, astronaut
Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom rode this
tiny craft 118 miles above the
Earth to become the second
American in space.
Grissom's flight was suborbital -
like fellow
Mercury astronaut Alan Shepard's
first flight -
however his capsule was different, with a window,
a new manual spacecraft control system, and an explosive hatch.
Unfortunately, after Grissom brought
Liberty Bell 7 to a successful
splash down in the planned area, the hatch blew prematurely
and rough seas began to flood the capsule.
While Grissom was able to get out,
the military recovery helicopter
could not lift the waterlogged spacecraft.
This dramatic picture was taken from the helicopter shortly
before Liberty Bell 7 was released and sank.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: spacecraft - Mercury program - astronaut
Publications with words: spacecraft - Mercury program - astronaut
See also: