Photography
First photograph: Mercury Atlas 4 was the first successful American unmanned orbital flight
Found at
Bruun Rasmussen
Space, Lot 6013
15. Nov - 15. Nov 2023
Space, Lot 6013
15. Nov - 15. Nov 2023
Estimate: XX.XXX
Price realised: XX.XXX
Price realised: XX.XXX
Description
It demonstrated the ability of the Atlas rocket to lift the Mercury capsule into orbit, of the capsule and its systems to operate completely autonomously, and succeeded in obtaining pictures of the Earth. It completed one orbit prior to returning to Earth. [NASA caption] MERCURY-ATLAS 4, launched September 13, 1961. Altitude ranging from approximately 97 statute miles at its perigee to approximately 140 miles. Retrorockets were fired over the coast of California with the recovery of the spacecraft in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 184 statute miles east of Bermuda in its planned primary landing area. The capsule was recovered in excellent condition one hour and 22 minutes after landing. The spacecraft attained a speed of approximately 17,500 miles per hour upon insertion of the spacecraft in orbit. The Atlas launch vehicle and spacecraft measures 93 feet overall. The diameter of the Atlas is about 10 feet and total thrust at lift-off is 320,000 pounds. Second photograph: After Mercury Atlas 4 successful unmanned orbital flight, to be on the safe side and test out a few more design changes, NASA still planned for one more unmanned test, Mercury Atlas 5 with the chimpanzee enos on board, before committing the Mercury-Atlas combo to a manned flight. [NASA caption] MA-5 launch vehicle being lifted into the gantry at Cape Canaveral, Florida. MA-5, carrying a primate, made two orbits around the Earth on November 29, 1961.
[Mercury Atlas 4 and 5] The first US man-rated rockets to successfully orbit the Earth. NASA, 13 September - 29 November 1961. Printed 1961. Two vintage gelatin silver prints on fiber-based paper [NASA images S-61–3567 and S-61–4473]. Each 20.3×25.4 cm (8
[Mercury Atlas 4 and 5] The first US man-rated rockets to successfully orbit the Earth. NASA, 13 September - 29 November 1961. Printed 1961. Two vintage gelatin silver prints on fiber-based paper [NASA images S-61–3567 and S-61–4473]. Each 20.3×25.4 cm (8
