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Author
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Topic: Mercury-Atlas 1 (MA-1) 1960 launch photos
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ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 2043
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
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posted 10-26-2013 07:53 PM
   
For the book I have nearly completed on the flight of Liberty Bell 7, I am seeking a good-quality scan of a photo of the launch of the unmanned MA-1 mission (the one minus the escape tower). The only images I can locate in the usual places are low resolution and grainy and not entirely suitable for reproduction. Any help greatly appreciated and will be acknowledged in the book. |
ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 2043
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
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posted 10-27-2013 12:03 AM
Many thanks to J.L. Pickering (Retro Space Images) who came to my aid and supplied three excellent, clear images of the required launch. Very grateful, J.L. |
Chuckster01
Member Posts: 942
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 05-17-2018 04:13 PM
Has anyone ever seen any pictures from the ill fated MA-1? I am looking and having no luck with any photographs from the day of the failure and crash. I cannot even find any crash site photos.Thanks if anyone can help. Editor's note: Threads merged. |
Joel Katzowitz
Member Posts: 811
From: Marietta GA USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 05-18-2018 06:57 AM
If I remember correctly the spacecraft broke apart about one minute after launch on a wet foggy day and then plummeted into the ocean. So the crash site was in the Atlantic. |
PowerCat
Member Posts: 196
From: Herington, KS, USA
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 05-18-2018 12:09 PM
Parts/pieces from this are on display at the Cosmosphere in Kansas. It is really neat display. |
Joel Katzowitz
Member Posts: 811
From: Marietta GA USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 05-18-2018 03:54 PM
There are also several pieces of MA-1 on display at my house. At the time of the mission NASA had not yet started to assert ownership of its spacecraft. After the bulk of the spacecraft was recovered from the Atlantic it was re-constructed so the engineers could determine what caused the accident. After the study was completed the spacecraft components were unceremoniously taken to a junkyard. At some point they were "discovered" and recovered and eventually found a number of homes including the Cosmosphere. It's actually a very interesting story. |
Chuckster01
Member Posts: 942
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 05-18-2018 04:28 PM
And that is why I am researching photographs as we have the main hatch at the American Space Museum and we are trying to find some display pictures to go with the hatch.There is a great picture of the reconstructed capsule but the hatch is on the opposite side of the capsule. If anyone has additional photos of the reconstruction that would also help. |
heng44
Member Posts: 3413
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 05-19-2018 06:01 AM
 
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Joel Katzowitz
Member Posts: 811
From: Marietta GA USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 05-19-2018 07:15 AM
Chuck, I have a fair amount of research material on MA-1. It includes images of the spacecraft before launch, basic schematics of the spacecraft, newspaper accounts of the disposition of the components, and detailed images of some of the recovered pieces. Email me if you're interested in any of the material. Unfortunately, none of my material is directly related to the hatch. By the way, I've seen your hatch on display at the museum, and it's amazing. |
mercsim
Member Posts: 219
From: Phoenix, AZ
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 05-20-2018 10:32 PM
Can someone (Chuck?) share photos of the hatch? |
Chuckster01
Member Posts: 942
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 05-21-2018 03:35 PM
Here is a picture of the hatch as it on display now. Please keep in mind you are looking at the exterior of the hatch. The force of the blast tore off all attachment points to the spacecraft and I am not sure if the reverse curve is due to the blast or the time it spent in the scrapyard. Still an awesome piece of history.  |
mercsim
Member Posts: 219
From: Phoenix, AZ
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 05-22-2018 08:06 PM
Super cool!Thank you for sharing. |
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