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Author
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Topic: Gus Grissom's Mercury-Redstone 4 helmet
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alanh_7
Member Posts: 1252
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 05-11-2012 05:59 PM
   
I was talking with a friend about Gus Grissom's Mercury flight.We all know the story of the splashdown so I won't go into it, but what I am curious about is the helmet that I have seen on display with the spacesuit. Is it the original helmet? And if so how? I thought about it and went and looked at the recovery film and noted the Grissom did not have his helmet on when he entered the water. So I assume the helmet was in the spacecraft when it went down. I have not heard anything about the helmet being recovered in Liberty Bell 7 in 1999 and if I recall the helmet on display has been with the suit for many years even before Liberty Bell 7 was recovered. So I guess the question I am asking is how did they get the helmet if in fact it is the original? |
Headshot
Member Posts: 864
From: Vancouver, WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 05-11-2012 06:05 PM
As I recall, his helmet was found floating in the ocean near the site of the capsule's sinking. According to what I remember, it was found by a shark swimming near the area. The story may be in the book, "We Seven." |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-11-2012 06:10 PM
The helmet on display with the flown silver spacesuit at the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in Florida is not the helmet that flew on Liberty Bell 7. That helmet was a training backup. The flown helmet is displayed at the Grissom Memorial at Spring Mill State Park in Mitchell, Ind. Its flight status was verified by its serial numbers.  |
alanh_7
Member Posts: 1252
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 05-11-2012 06:17 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Headshot:
As I recall, his helmet was found floating in the ocean near the site of the capsule's sinking.
That explains it. |
Roc
New Member Posts: 1
From: League City, TX
Registered: Sep 2014
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posted 09-08-2014 06:05 PM
Interesting, when I was a kid I saw that helmet multiple times in my father's office at NASA. I'd be interested to know who gave it to the museum.
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-08-2014 06:07 PM
According to the descriptive plaque accompanying its display, the helmet is on exhibit courtesy of Grissom's parents.Who was your father and what role did he play that he had the helmet in his office? |
Joel Katzowitz
Member Posts: 808
From: Marietta GA USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 09-08-2014 06:18 PM
The helmet and silver spacesuit on display at the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame came from the home of Betty Grissom sometime around 1989 or 1990. |
Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1306
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 09-10-2014 03:41 PM
The story I heard was the helmet was recovered by a crewman of the U.S.S. Randolph later that afternoon. The conclusion was it had somehow floated out of the spacecraft. The antenna canister was also recovered. |
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