Schirra Presented with Launch Key from Atlas Crew
Dublin Core
Title
Schirra Presented with Launch Key from Atlas Crew
Alternative Title
Schirra Presented with Launch Key from Atlas Crew
Subject
Cape Canaveral (Fla.)
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (Fla.)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (U.S.)
NASA
Atlas (Missile)
Astronauts--United States
Project Mercury (U.S.)
Description
A newspaper article and photograph showing Dr. Cal Fowler (1929-2013), on the left, presenting the launch key to astronaut Wally Schirra (1923-2007) Dr. Fowler, the Launch Conductor at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS)'s Launch Complex 14 (LC-14) in Cape Canaveral, Florida, used the key to launch Schirra's spacecraft, Sigma 7, into orbit on October 3, 1962. Mercury-Atlas 8 (MA-8) was the fifth manned space mission and was launched as part of Project Mercury.General Dynamics Astronautics, the firm which conducted the launch, had the key gold-plated and engraved with the following message: "Wally Schirra, MA-8 Orbital Launch, 10-3-62 7:15 a.m." The opposite side of the key stated: "Atlas, Launch Console Arming Key, Mercury Sigma 7, General Dynamics Astronautics."
Source
Original newspaper article, 1962: Private Collection of Dr. Calvin D. Fowler.
Date Created
ca. 1962
Is Format Of
Digital reproduction of original newspaper article, 1962.
Is Part Of
Dr. Calvin Fowler Collection, Florida Space Coast History Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.
Is Referenced By
"Dr. Calvin "Cal" Fowler Presenting Walter "Wally" Marty Schirra, Jr. with Launch Key." RICHES of Central Florida.
Format
image/jpg
Extent
230 KB
Medium
1 newspaper article
Type
Still Image
Coverage
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14, Cape Canaveral, Florida
Accrual Method
Donation
Mediator
History Teacher
Civics/Government Teacher
Provenance
Originally owned by Dr. Calvin D. Fowler.
Rights Holder
Copyright to this resource is held by Dr. Calvin D. Fowler and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.
Contributing Project
Curator
Michlowitz, Robert
Cepero, Laura
Digital Collection
External Reference
"Mercury Atlas 8." National Space Science Data Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration. http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1962-052A.
Document Item Type Metadata
Original Format
1 newspaper article
Collection
Citation
“Schirra Presented with Launch Key from Atlas Crew,” RICHES, accessed November 4, 2025, https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/6393.