[Mercury Atlas 4] Path to orbit: first photograph from space from a...

[Mercury Atlas 4] Path to orbit: first photograph from space from a human-rated orbital spacecraft. NASA, 13 September 1961. Printed 1961. Vintage chromogenic print on heavy early fiber-based Kodak paper [NASA image MA-4–4713-341]. 20.3×25.4 cm (8×10 in), with “EKC” watermarks on the verso (NASA Cape Canaveral, Florida).

An extremely rare photograph from a series of automatic sequential pictures taken from space from the unmanned human-rated spacecraft during the 1-orbit flight (apogee of 248 km; perigee of 156 km). The Earth sky Maurer 220G camera was equipped with a timer, a 75mm lens and GAF Super Anscochrome T-100 Superior ASA 64 color reversal film.

The Mercury Atlas 4 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)

Condition Report:Excellent condition.

Category:Photos ▸ Vintage photographs