Smiling Schirra Gets Memento Key
Dublin Core
Title
Smiling Schirra Gets Memento Key
Alternative Title
Smiling Schirra Gets Memento Key
Subject
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (U.S.)
NASA
Project Mercury (U.S.)
Astronauts--United States
Schirra, Wally
Schirra, Walter M. (Walter Marty), 1923-2007
Description
A newspaper article about Dr. Cal Fowler (1929-2013) presenting an engraved 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 (1923-2007), 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." Dr. Fowler and General Dynamics site manager B. G. MacNabb appear in the photograph to the left and Schirra appears in the right photograph.
General Dynamics Astronautics, the firm which conducted the launch, had the key gold-plated and engraved with the following message: "Wally Schirra (1923-2007), 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." Dr. Fowler and General Dynamics site manager B. G. MacNabb appear in the photograph to the left and Schirra appears in the right photograph.
Creator
Mack, Walt
Source
Original newspaper article: Mack, Walt. "Smiling Schirra Gets Memento Key." The Brevard-Sentinel, 1963: Private Collection of Dr. Calvin D. Fowler.
Publisher
The Brevard-Sentinel
Date Created
ca. 1963-10
Date Copyrighted
ca. 1963-10
Date Issued
ca. 1963-10
Is Format Of
Digital reproduction of original newspaper article: Mack, Walt. "Smiling Schirra Gets Memento Key." The Brevard-Sentinel, 1963.
Is Part Of
Dr. Calvin Fowler Collection, Florida Space Coast History Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.
Format
image/jpg
Extent
123 KB
Medium
1 newspaper article
Type
Text
Coverage
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14, Cape Canaveral, Florida
Accrual Method
Donation
Mediator
History Teacher
Provenance
Originally created by Walt Mack and published by The Brevard-Sentinel.
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
Mack, Walt, “Smiling Schirra Gets Memento Key,” RICHES, accessed December 3, 2024, https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/6417.