This unflown Mercury capsule was originally intended to carry Alan Shepard on a late 1963 return to space for a long-duration orbital mission called Mercury-Atlas 10 (MA10). Shepard named the capsule ‘Freedom 7 II’ in tribute to his original capsule, ‘Freedom 7’. However, after the success of Gordon Coopers MA-9 mission in May 1963, MA-10 was cancelled in favour of the two-man Gemini program.
As preserved, this capsule is unusual as it still has the nose section containing the parachute and the retrorocket package used to slow the capsule for its return to earth. These features are used during a mission and only one other surviving Mercury capsule still has them.
It was transferred to the Smithsonian Institute by NASA in 1967 and is now part of the National Air and Space Museum. It is seen on display in the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar at the Steven F. Udvar Hazy Center
Washington Dulles International Airport, Chantilly, Virginia
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