Topic: Current location of Mercury-Atlas 4 capsule
Solarplexus Member
Posts: 125 From: Norway Registered: Jan 2014
posted 06-15-2022 01:16 PM
Mercury-Atlas 4 became the first spaceship (unmanned) of the US that orbited Earth in September 13, 1961. But I haven't found it in any exhibitions anywhere.
Does anyone know where it is today?
onesmallstep Member
Posts: 1351 From: Staten Island, New York USA Registered: Nov 2007
posted 06-15-2022 01:43 PM
I was just researching this topic. I emailed someone at the NASA history office after seeing an entry on the NASA website on MA-4, but with no details on where the capsule is today.
Solarplexus Member
Posts: 125 From: Norway Registered: Jan 2014
posted 06-15-2022 05:18 PM
Well we might find out someday, if NASA can find it
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 48530 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 06-15-2022 07:00 PM
According to A Field Guide to American Spacecraft (which is currently offline), the Mercury-Atlas 4 capsule was dismantled by the National Air and Space Museum in 1976 "for spare parts."
Interestingly, the guide also identifies that MA-4 was the same capsule that flew on Mercury-Atlas 3. The Atlas was destroyed by range safety 40 seconds into the flight but the capsule was recovered and reused for MA-4.