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Author
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Topic: Flown artifacts from all Mercury missions
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Joel Katzowitz
Member Posts: 808
From: Marietta GA USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 11-27-2008 10:31 AM
   
This seems like an appropriate day to shout out my recent accomplishment from the cS rooftop.Yesterday I received a package that completed my 18 year quest to own a flown artifact from all of the Mercury Astronaut's collective missions. By my count, that's 13 spaceflights (if I counted wrong please wait a few days before letting me know, I want to enjoy this). Early in my quest I was fortunate to score items from what I perceived to be the most difficult missions of the lot. MR-3, MR-4 (before Liberty Bell 7 was found), and MA-6. After my success with those flights I figured the rest would be a piece of cake. Boy was I wrong. The package I opened yesterday contained a flown artifact from Wally Schirra's MA-8 mission. For whatever reason, obtaining an item from that flight proved to be the most difficult. In any case, I'm done now and it feels great. |
rjurek349
Member Posts: 1190
From: Northwest Indiana
Registered: Jan 2002
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posted 11-27-2008 11:27 AM
A hearty congratulations on your accomplishment... the resolution of an 18 year quest. Certainly, an appropriate day to announce it!!! My deepest best wishes on a job well done. Enjoy,Rich |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-27-2008 01:32 PM
Congratulations Joel! So the obvious question is: what are the artifacts from each of the missions? And how do you plan to display them? Together or separately? |
Joel Katzowitz
Member Posts: 808
From: Marietta GA USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 11-28-2008 08:21 AM
OK, here's my Mercury Astronauts "flown" inventory: - MR-3 - 1" square section of spacecraft parachute material.
- MR-4 - thumbnail size piece of rubber from Grissom's neckdam (pre LB7 recovery). Assorted Kansas Cosmosphere hardware and 16mm film Acrylics (post LB7 recovery).
- MA-6 - 1 1/2" square piece of Atlas 109D, Glenn's launch vehicle.
- MA-7 - Heat shield acrylic and a small section of orange nylon survival kit lanyard.
- MA-8 - One dollar Silver Certificate bill that was gifted to Bill Dana for his birthday (October 5) after the flight.
- MA-9 - 2" length of the 10' nylon cord that was part of the survival kit.
- GT-3 - 3/4" square fabric section of John Young's harness strap.
- GT-5 - 5"x8" page from the "Experimental Procedures Book" as well as a large fold out "misc. electrical systems" schematic page.
- GT-6 - small fragment of heat shield.
- AS-7 - 2" length of rope from the Exer-Gym machine.
- AS-14 - small section of roll 64 70mm film from Shepard's camera used on the lunar surface as well as a 1" length of "safety line" also carried on the surface.
- ASTP - several large sections of Kapton material.
- STS-95 - Gimbal bolt from SSME #2.
Based on the different physical dimensions of the artifacts, I think displaying them together would be difficult. Currently each item is displayed on, or accompanied by, a certificate of my own design. The lone exception is a shadow box I recently had fabricated which contains the MA-6 Atlas fragment, the STS-95 bolt, and a double canceled launch cover signed by Glenn. What makes this display even more special for me is the fact that I designed the "John Glenn return to space" commemorative postmark used on this cover. |
Tom
Member Posts: 1597
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 11-28-2008 10:40 AM
Joel... congratulations on completing your collection.When you first mentioned it, I kept coming up with 12 missions... I finally realized STS-95 with John Glenn. Great job! |
Gilbert
Member Posts: 1328
From: Carrollton, GA USA
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 11-29-2008 09:49 AM
Fantastic, Joel! When will your exhibit be open to the public? I've been fortunate to see a few of the items, but not all of them. |
Joel Katzowitz
Member Posts: 808
From: Marietta GA USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 11-29-2008 03:16 PM
I was hoping to book a tour stop at the Gilbert Huey Library when I take the show on the road. |
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