Lot 26

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First picture of a human during spaceflight: Alan Shepard aboard Freedom 7 during America’s first space mission, May 5, 1961

Camera in Mercury Redstone 3

Name: First picture of a human during spaceflight: Alan Shepard aboard Freedom 7 during America’s first space mission, May 5, 1961
Brand: Camera in Mercury Redstone 3
Price: 700.00 GBP
Availability: SoldOut

Price Realised GBP 875

Estimate

GBP 1,500 - GBP 2,500

Closed: 19 Nov 2020

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First picture of a human during spaceflight: Alan Shepard aboard Freedom 7 during America’s first space mission, May 5, 1961

Camera in Mercury Redstone 3

Price Realised GBP 875

Closed: 19 Nov 2020

Price Realised GBP 875

Closed: 19 Nov 2020

Details Lot Essay Related Articles More from

Taken by a pilot observer movie camera inside the Freedom 7 Spacecraft

Alan Shepard, first American in space, aboard Freedom 7 during the suborbital flight

Mercury Redstone 3, May 5, 1961

Vintage gelatin silver print on fiber-based paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), with NASA HQ caption numbered “61- MR3-104” on the verso
20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in)

National Geographic, September 1961, p. 432; Life, 12 May 1961, p. 23.

This lot will be removed to Christie’s Park Royal. Christie’s will inform you if the lot has been sent offsite. Our removal and storage of the lot is subject to the terms and conditions of storage which can be found at Christies.com/storage and our fees for storage are set out in the table below - these will apply whether the lot remains with Christie’s or is removed elsewhere. Please call Christie’s Client Service 24 hours in advance to book a collection time at Christie’s Park Royal. All collections from Christie’s Park Royal will be by pre-booked appointment only. Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 9060 Email: cscollectionsuk@christies.com. If the lot remains at Christie’s it will be available for collection on any working day 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Lots are not available for collection at weekends.
Specified lots are being stored at Crozier Park Royal (details below) or will be removed from Christie’s, 8 King Street, London, SW1Y 6QT by 5.00pm on the day of the sale. Christie’s will inform you if the lot has been sent offsite. If the lot has been transferred to Crozier Park Royal, it will be available for collection from 12.00pm on the second business day following the sale. Please call Christie’s Client Service 24 hours in advance to book a collection time at Crozier Park Royal. All collections from Crozier Park Royal will be by pre-booked appointment only. Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 9060 Email: cscollectionsuk@christies.com. If the lot remains at Christie’s, 8 King Street, it will be available for collection on any working day (not weekends) from 9.00am to 5.00pm
Please note this lot is the property of a consumer. See H1 of the Conditions of Sale.

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This lot is offered by Christie Manson & Woods Ltd

Brought to you by

James Hyslop

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

Lot Essay

“Alan Shepard is just about to raise the shield in front of his face, during descent after opening of main parachute” (NASA caption).

“I realized that somebody would ask me about weightlessness. [...] Movements, speech, and breathing are unimpaired and the entire sensation is most analogous to floating. The NASA intends, of course, to investigate this phenomenon during longer periods of time, but the astronauts approach these periods with no trepidation. [...] At 10,000 feet the main parachute came out and I was able to observe the entire operation through the periscope. I could see the streaming action as well as the unreefing action and could immediately assess the condition of the canopy. It looked good and the opening shock was smooth and welcome. I reported all of these events to the control center and then proceeded to get ready for landing. I opened the faceplate of the helmet and disconnected the hose which supplies oxygen to its seal. I removed the chest strap and the knee restraint straps. I had the lap belt and shoulder harness still fastened,” related Shepard (Pilot’s Flight Report).

From the mission transcript after the opening of the main parachute:

000:10:15 Shepard: Main (parachute) on green
000:10:18 Shepard: Main chute is reefed
000:10:22 Shepard: Main chute is green. Main chute is coming unreefed and it looks good.
000:10:28 Shepard: Main chute is good. Rate of descent is reading about 35 ft/sec.
000:10:40 Shepard: Hello Cap Com. Freedom Seven How do you read?
000:10:55 Shepard: Hello CARDFILE 23, this is Freedom Seven. Do you read?
000:11:03 Shepard: Affirmative Indian Capcom, let me give you a report. I’m at 7,000 feet, the main chute is good, the landing bag is on green, my peroxide has dumped, my condition is good.