[1] Project Mercury / Unidentified photographer
Freedom capsule
1962
Vintage photograph with black NASA MSC number “S-61-1447” and NASA MSC caption on the verso.

[2] U.S. NAVY / Unidentified photographer
Sinking Project Mercury capsule
April 13, 1960
Vintage photograph with NASA MSC caption and an official stamp of the U.S. Navy on the verso with identifying number “EAP-3936-4-60”.
20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in)

This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.
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Conditions of Sale
FAQs
This lot is offered by Christie Manson & Woods Ltd

Brought to you by

James HyslopHead of Department, Science & Natural History

A Christie's specialist may contact you to discuss this lot or to notify you if the condition changes prior to the sale.

jhyslop@christies.com +44 (0) 20 7752 3205

View condition report

Lot Essay

[1] The Mercury programme had two vehicles including a Redstone for the suborbital and an Atlas for the four orbital flights. The Mercury flights usually lasted less than nine hours as the objective of the missions were to put astronauts into orbit around the Earth and recover them successfully. It was because of this that the spacecrafts were so small. The blunt end of the spacecraft would enter Earth first in order to slow the vehicle down and to shed heat.

[2] This photograph was taken during project Mercury in the sixth stage of sinking the capsule.
From caption.