Lot 30

3 More

Launch of the first American unmanned orbital flight [Large Format]; first photograph of Earth from space from a spacecraft in orbit, Mercury Atlas 4, September 13, 1961

NASA; camera on Mercury Atlas 4

Name: Launch of the first American unmanned orbital flight [Large Format]; first photograph of Earth from space from a spacecraft in orbit, Mercury Atlas 4, September 13, 1961
Brand: NASA; camera on Mercury Atlas 4
Price: 400.00 GBP
Availability: SoldOut

Price Realised GBP 500

Estimate

GBP 1,500 - GBP 2,500

Closed: 19 Nov 2020

Loading details

Try our

Launch of the first American unmanned orbital flight [Large Format]; first photograph of Earth from space from a spacecraft in orbit, Mercury Atlas 4, September 13, 1961

NASA; camera on Mercury Atlas 4

Price Realised GBP 500

Closed: 19 Nov 2020

Price Realised GBP 500

Closed: 19 Nov 2020

Details Lot Essay Related Articles More from

30 a
Taken by a 70mm Maurer Earth Sky automatic camera mounted on the unmanned Mercury spacecraft

First photograph of Earth from space from a spacecraft in orbit

Mercury Atlas 4, September 13, 1961

Unreleased photograph, vintage chromogenic print on fiber-based Kodak paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), with NASA HQ credit stamp and “A Kodak Paper” watermarks on the verso, numbered “NASA S-62-1282” (NASA MSC) in black in top margin (the print was made in 1962-1963)

30 b
NASA / Unidentified Photographer

Launch of the first successful American unmanned orbital flight

Mercury Atlas 4, September 13, 1961

Large-format presentation vintage chromogenic print on fiber-based Kodak paper, 28.3 x 35.2cm (11 x 14in), with “A Kodak Paper” watermarks on the verso
28.3 x 35.2cm (11 x 14in)

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.
Please note this lot is the property of a consumer. See H1 of the Conditions of Sale.

Conditions of Sale
FAQs
This lot is offered by Christie Manson & Woods Ltd

Brought to you by

James Hyslop

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

Lot Essay

An extremely rare photograph taken from the spacecraft during the 1-orbit flight (apogee of 248 km; perigee of 156 km).

The Earth sky Maurer 220G camera was equipped with a 75mm lens and GAF Super Anscochrome T-100 Superior ASA 64 color reversal film.

“This flight was an orbital test of the Mercury Tracking Network and the first successful orbital flight test of the Mercury program. (All previous successful launches were suborbital.) The payload consisted of a pilot simulator (to test the environmental controls), two voice tapes (to check the tracking network), a life support system, three cameras, and instrumentation to monitor levels of noise, vibration and radiation. 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. The capsule was recovered 161 miles east of Bermuda 82 minutes after splash-down by the destroyer U.S.S. Decatur” (https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1961-025A).